Continental fires new shot in fare war Rates to Chicago, Cleveland cut

An article in yesterday's Business section about Continental Airlines' new fares incorrectly compared the carrier's new round-trip fare to Cleveland with the fare offered by Southwest Airlines. In fact, Continental's new fare is the same as Southwest's fare.

The Sun regrets the error.

Continental Airlines has upped the ante in the Baltimore fare wars.

The airline yesterday announced round-trip fares of $38 to Cleveland -- $1 less than the fare Southwest Airlines offered Tuesday and $11 less than what USAir offered the same day.

Continental also announced a $78 round-trip fare to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport -- the same as Southwest's and $11 less than USAir's fare.

Continental's new fares are unrestricted on Saturday and Sunday. They are available during the week, but require a reservation at least one day ahead and are not refundable.

The fares begin Sept. 8.

On Tuesday, USAir sparked a new round in the fare wars by drastically cutting prices on flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport. Later in the day, Southwest and Continental announced they would also cut fares.

The moves come in anticipation of Southwest entering the East Coast market by beginning flights from BWI on Sept. 15.