Flights will leave from Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 9:00 p.m. and arrive at Rio's Galeão International Airport at 11:10 a.m. the following day. The return flights will depart from Rio de Janeiro on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 11:40 p.m. and arrive at Houston at 6:00 a.m. the following day.
Continental will utilize a Boeing 767-400 aircraft on the route, with 35 seats in BusinessFirst and 200 seats in economy.
"Responding to the needs of our corporate customers, we're pleased to offer convenient nonstop service between these two important oil markets," said John Slater, Continental's managing director Latin America. "This new service will also provide easier access to one of the most exciting tourist destinations in the world."
The airline currently operates two daily flights between the U.S. and Brazil. Daily service is offered between Continental's New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport and Sao Paulo's Guarulhos International Airport, and between Houston and Rio de Janeiro, via São Paulo.
The new flights will offer BusinessFirst service, which features a gourmet menu served with wines and champagnes. Customers traveling in BusinessFirst may access any of Continental's 27 Presidents Clubs and more than 60 airline affiliated lounges worldwide.
With more than 44,000 employees, Continental Airlines is the world's fifth largest airline. Together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, the airline has more than 2,500 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 131 domestic and 131 international destinations.