Dear Secretary Mineta:



Continental Airlines has applied for authority to operate daily service between Houston and Buenos Aires, Argentina, with through service to/from Newark Liberty International Airport. As an employee of Continental Airlines, I respectfully urge you to grant Continental this authority.     



Continental’s employees have worked hard at providing clean, safe and reliable transportation and professional customer service to destinations that meet the consumer’s needs, and at developing an extensive Latin American network that spans across 54 destinations in 15 countries. As an employee I am excited about the international growth opportunities at the Houston hub and for Continental’s Latin operations. Adding nonstop Buenos Aires service to our airline’s Houston network is the right consumer and economic decision given the importance of Latin trade to the city of Houston, the state of Texas and the southwest U.S. region. With through flight service to Liberty International Airport, Continental will be able to serve the New York / New Jersey region as well.  



Continental’s entrance into the Argentinean market will provide new, strong competition to U.S. carriers already operating in the market, including United, American and Delta. Adding Houston as a new gateway to/from Argentina provides additional U.S. carrier competition for consumers throughout the western and central U.S. 



Allowing Continental to commence service to Argentina via its Houston hub is important to U.S. consumers and to Continental’s continued growth, its Latin American network, its employees, and its Houston hub. The Department’s decision should be an easy one, and I urge you to allow my company to provide new competition and new gateway service to Argentina. 



Thank you for your consideration.