Continental installs lie-flat seats to lure business travelers

CHICAGO — Continental Airlines said Wednesday that all of its Boeing 757-200 jets now have lie-flat seats in business class.

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Airlines are racing to put lie-flat seats into their premium cabins to lure travelers willing to pay extra for comfort on long flights.

Continental has 41 Boeing 757-200s, which it uses on international flights between its hub at Newark, N.J., and Europe. In December, Continental completed installing similar seats on its 22 Boeing 777 aircraft.

Sister airline United said it will have 10 Boeing 777s with flat-bed seats in first- and business-class in April and has put them in its Boeing 747-400 and Boeing 767-300 aircraft used on international flights.

Both airlines are owned by United Continental Holdings Inc.