United has applied before the ANAC to replace Continental in its services to Brazil effective December 9th, 2011. I don't know what effects this measure will have in terms of marketing or even airport collocation, but once approved, Continental Airlines will no longer officially fly to Brazil or even overfly it, since the request for IAH-EZE was also included.

Here are the schedules:

UA030 762 GRU 2300 0600+1 EWR 0727+1 0827+1 BOS
UA031 762 BOS 1912 2033 EWR 2150 1040+1 GRU
UA042 762 GRU 2335 IAH 0540+1
UA043 762 SFO 1222 1808 IAH 2115 1115+1 GRU
UA128 764 GIG 2255 0515+1 IAH 0713+1 0814+1 MSY
UA129 764 MSY 1733 1839 IAH 2100 1115+1 GIG
UA052 764 EZE 2250 IAH 0620+1
UA053 764 IAH 2100 EZE 1020+1

Source: http://www2.anac.gov.br/hotran/

I think this is just for clerical purposes related to the renaming of the airline. All those flights are the same PMCO aircraft and routes - just with the UA code.

That is all PMCO equipment. It will still be CO crews and aircraft. This simply has to do with the assumption that a Single Operating Certificate will be granted and there will be (at least on paper) no more Continental Airlines.

I think this is more of a formality. All these PMCO routes are still served by CO aircraft. So the routes will no longer be served by CO but rather now the newly merged UA.

The domestic tags are also likely aircraft changes.

Man I was beaten to it

[Edited 2011-11-24 20:19:05]

Quoting Drerx7 (Reply 1): I think this is just for clerical purposes related to the renaming of the airline. All those flights are the same PMCO aircraft and routes - just with the UA code.

Quoting DualQual (Reply 2): That is all PMCO equipment. It will still be CO crews and aircraft. This simply has to do with the assumption that a Single Operating Certificate will be granted and there will be (at least on paper) no more Continental Airlines.

Quoting usairways85 (Reply 3): I think this is more of a formality. All these PMCO routes are still served by CO aircraft. So the routes will now longer be served by CO but rather now the newly merged UA.

I didn't mean anything else. If that will apply globally and SOC is expected on that date, we shall see.
One new thing that might become possible on that date forward is the ability to connect between all merged-UA flights at GRU. Currently, a GIG-GRU tag passenger may only choose between GRU-IAD or GRU-ORD. In the future, it's expected to be possible for GRU-EWR and GRU-IAH as well, just the SOC was missing.

What does this mean for UA flights like ORD and IAD to GRU with a tag to GIG. Also, what about the rumors of UA from EWR to GIG non-stop? Without the seasonal IAD to GIG service the NYC area has only a code share with TAM from JFK to GIG.

Looking ahead at Spring schedules CO/UA are up gauging EWR-GRU to a 764.

Quoting STT757 (Reply 6):

What is used now on EWR GRU? A 767-3? One important question is when will all the 767's get the new seats? Otherwise you would be on a 9 hour flight in BF in a padded dining room chair that barely reclines and a foot rest that barely comes up. My historic issue with CO is that while it was great in so many ways, like customer service, charging $6000 to GRU in that BF chair was rip off.

"IMHO"

Wasn't the a/c types a give away that these were not United birds?

Quoting as739x (Reply 8): Wasn't the a/c types a give away that these were not United birds?

There was never a doubt about that.

Quoting C010T3 (Thread starter): airport collocation

Wasn't the term "collocation" a giveaway that there was no indication if that would translate into practical changes?

It's interesting that now the flight exclusion request came through. It's out of sync with United's. Its flights will be excluded eff. 12/12/11.

Source: http://www2.anac.gov.br/hotran/

Continental has seized to exist already when it comes to foreign authorities. They were consolidated into a single entity with United's several months back by the DOT. The combined authorities could be operated as either CO or UA code at the convenience of the merged company.