Continental Airlines (UA) Announces First 787 Route

Today Continental Airlines has officially become the first 787 future operator to announce a specific route with the new aircraft. Effective November 16, 2011 Continental Airlines will launch nonstop flights from Houston to Auckland, New Zealand. This is the first Continental flight from the mainland USA directly to a destination in Oceania in quite some time. United Airlines does not currently serve Auckland however they do code-share with Star Alliance partner Air New Zealand.

The press release and prelimanry schedule can be viewed here:

http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/ap ... x?i=PRNEWS

I imagine Continental (United) will at first operate the 787 on some proving flights between EWR and IAH.

Interesting first choice of routes.... I would have expected more of a "Flag ship" route.