Continental Airlines 2Q Lobbying Tab Dips To $290K

Continental Airlines Inc. slashed its lobbying spending in the second quarter to $290,000 while successfully promoting its bid for antitrust immunity when it joins a new airline alliance this fall.

Continental disclosed in a July 20 filing with the House clerk’s office that it lobbied on its application for antitrust immunity to work closely with United and other airlines on international routes.

The Transportation Department granted the request with a few limits in July, and Continental plans to join the Star Alliance of airlines in late October.

Continental spent $810,000 on lobbying in the first quarter, and $313,870 in the fourth quarter of 2008, according to its disclosure reports.

In the most recent period, the Houston-based carrier also lobbied on air traffic control issues including congestion and delays, airline industry financial issues, transportation security, and pilot training and rest regulations.

In February, a Continental Connection flight operated by a subcontractor crashed near Buffalo, killing all 49 people on board and a man on the ground. An expert who testified at a hearing about the crash said the judgment of the pilot and co-pilot were probably impaired by fatigue.

Obama administration officials have said they soon will propose new limits on how many hours pilots can fly, a move that has been suggested for two decades by the National Transportation Safety Board.

Besides Congress, Continental lobbied the White House, the departments of Transportation, Justice and State, and the FAA in the April-June period.