Continental Airlines

formerly
Varney Speed Lines (Southwest Division)
Varney Air Transport

USA

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Continental Airlines was founded as the Southwest Division of Varney Speed Lines (the other division of Varney Speed Lines was in California) to fly over the contract mail route from Pueblo to El Paso. The service started in July 1934 with the addition of a passenger leg between Denver and Pueblo. The name changed to Varney Air Transport in December 1934 and again to Continental Air Lines in July 1937. Continental took over the Local Service carrier Pioneer Air Lines in April 1955.

In 1981 Texas Air Corporation acquired control of the airline and merged it with Texas International Airlines in October 1982. During 1986 Texas Air purchased People Express and the assets of Frontier Airlines, which were merged into Continental, as was New York Air, another airline owned by Texas Air. The merger was completed by January 1987, making Continental one of the largest airlines in the U.S.A.

Continental Airlines and United Airlines were merged in 2010, retaining the United name, but using the Continental livery and logo. The Continental brand disappeared completely in 2012.

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Varney Speed Lines (Southwest Division)
September 20, 1934

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Varney Air Transport
October 1, 1935

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July 1, 1937
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April 24, 1938
(From the collection of Michael Dawes)
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September 24, 1939
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August 1, 1941
(From the collection of Craig Morris)

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May 1, 1944
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May 1, 1948
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April 30, 1950

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November 1, 1951
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September 28, 1952
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July 15, 1954
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April 1, 1955
(Image above from the collection of David H. Stringer)
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January 15, 1956
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October 28, 1956
(From the collection of Michael Dawes)
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March 1, 1957
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April 28, 1957
(From the collection of David H. Stringer)

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September 29, 1957
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January 20, 1958
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May 1958
(Iamge above from the collection of David H. Stringer)
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April 1, 1959
(From the collection of David H. Stringer)

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September 27, 1959
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June 26, 1960
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April 30, 1961
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July 1, 1963
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July 29, 1964
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October 31, 1965
(From the collection of Todd Budish)
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March 1, 1966
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October 30, 1966
(From the collection of Michael Dawes)
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December 1, 1967
(From the collection of Michael Dawes)

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August 1, 1968

February 1, 1970
(From the collection of Todd Budish)
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October 26, 1975
(From the collection of Michael Dawes)
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September 13, 1976
(From the collection of Todd Budish)

July 1, 1980
(From the collection of Todd Budish)

July 1, 1981
(From the collection of Michael Dawes)

December 1, 1981
(From the collection of Todd Gould)
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June 1, 1982
(From the collection of Todd Budish)

October 31, 1982
(From the collection of Todd Gould)

January 15, 1983
(From the collection of Todd Gould)

March 1, 1983
(From the collection of Todd Gould)

June 1, 1983
(From the collection of Todd Gould)

September 1, 1983
(From the collection of Todd Budish)

March 1, 1984
(From the collection of Michael Dawes)

April 28, 1985
(From the collection of Todd Budish)

August 1, 1985
(From the collection of Stephen Sander)
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November 1, 1985
(From the collection of Todd Budish)
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September 9, 1987
(From the collection of Todd Budish)

July 1, 1989
(From the collection of Mayer Fallena)

February 15, 1990
(From the collection of Todd Budish)
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For quick comparison with other Continental Airlines timetables,
visit the Continental Airlines page of Perry Sloan's "AirTimes" site.

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This page last updated November 22, 2021.