The inaugural flight from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to Rio de Janeiro is a welcomed addition to the airport’s international route map.

Continental Airlines inaugurated daily nonstop service from IAH and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, making Houston only the fourth U.S. city with nonstop service to Rio.

“Continental Airlines is a great partner of the Houston Airport System and we congratulate them on this historic service to Rio de Janeiro,” says Rob Wigington, HAS deputy director. “With time, Continental’s award winning service will make Bush Intercontinental the gateway of choice for millions of travelers going to South America. We look forward to many great years together and expanding our route network.”

The celebration of the inauguration included Brazilian delicacies and music, cupcakes adorned with the Brazilian flags and a ribbon cutting.

Although Rio is known for its beautiful beaches, culture and Carnival, the city is an important connection due to global business ties to oil and gas, telecommunications, finance, medicine and research and development to biofuels and life sciences.

«This new flight links important energy centers with convenient nonstop service,» said John Slater, staff vice president Latin America and Caribbean. «It also provides the most direct routing from numerous western points being that it is the only nonstop flight between Houston and Rio west of the Mississippi.»

For the daily service, Continental is flying a Boeing 767-200 aircraft, with 25 seats in BusinessFirst and 149 seats in economy.

The flight schedule for the new daily nonstop service is set up so that the flight departs Houston at 9:15 p.m. and arrives in Rio de Janeiro at 9:15 a.m. the next day. The return flight departs Rio de Janeiro at 9:45 p.m. and arrives in Houston the following morning at 6:00 a.m.

The nonstop flight is timed to offer convenient flight connections at Continental’s Houston hub to cities throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia.