HOUSTON, Oct. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL - News) today announced that it will introduce nonstop service between Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Liberia, Costa Rica, on Jan. 31, 2004, subject to government approval.

Liberia will be the ninth destination in Central America served by Continental, which currently offers service to every capital city in Central America from Houston, Texas and to six Central American destinations from New York/Newark (almost 100 weekly flights).

Continental will operate a 124-seat Boeing 737-700 on the route, with flights timed for convenient connections at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport to and from dozens of destinations throughout the United States, Canada and Europe on the nonstop service to Liberia.

Three weekly flights on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday will depart from Houston Intercontinental Airport at 3:30 p.m., arriving in Liberia at 6:53 p.m. The return flight will depart Liberia on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 8:00 a.m., arriving in Houston at 11:50 a.m.

"We are very pleased to be able to offer this new route to Liberia, which reflects Continental's commitment to the Central American market," said a Continental Airlines spokesperson.

The Guanacaste region serviced by Liberia airport is an emerging market for ecotourism. The Guanacaste region is bordered by two mountain ranges. The Cordillera de Tilaran and the Cordillera de Guanacaste provide splendid craggy backdrops to some of the country's most beautiful countryside. Liberia is well known as "Ciudad Blanca," since buildings and houses are painted white or constructed in white stones. It is also a connection city from which tourists can get to the most beautiful beaches on the Costa Rican Pacific Coast, most of them with white sand and blue water. From Liberia you can reach many beaches with luxury and modern hotels in only 20 minutes.

Continental Airlines is the world's seventh-largest airline and has more than 2,200 daily departures. With 127 domestic and 96 international destinations, Continental has extensive service throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. Continental has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and carries approximately 41 million passengers per year. With 42,000 mainline employees, Continental is one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America. In 2003, Fortune ranked Continental highest among major U.S. carriers in the quality of its service and products, and No. 2 on its list of Most Admired Global Airlines. For more company information, visit www.continental.com.