Continental to fly reduced Houston schedule Monday

HOUSTON, Texas (AP) -- Continental Airlines Inc. said Sunday it would resume flights in and out of Houston on Monday, but Southwest Airlines Co. won't resume operations here until Tuesday.

Both airlines and other carriers halted flights in and out of Houston's two major airports on Friday, hours before Hurricane Ike made landfall along the Texas coast.

Continental said Sunday it would resume the "vast majority" of its regular schedule at Bush Intercontinental Airport, beginning with early-morning arrivals and departures. Feeder airlines Continental Express and Continental Connection will operate at "a reduced level" on Monday, the company said.

Nearly 20,000 of Continental's 44,000 employees are based in Houston, which was hit with flooding and wind damage.

AMR Corp.'s American Airlines listed flights in and out of Bush Intercontinental and Houston Hobby Airport on Monday.

Dallas-based Southwest said Sunday night that it had canceled Monday flights at Houston Hobby Airport and planned to operate a "limited schedule" on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Southwest said its ability to resume its normal schedule -- Houston is one of its busiest cities -- will depend upon the condition of the airport facility and security.

The airlines said the curfew in effect for Houston does not apply to customers or employees traveling to the airports.

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