Continental Airlines said on Sunday its agreement with flight attendants had been ratified after local vote counts at bases in Houston, Newark and Cleveland.

Continental and its 8,300 flight attendants reached the deal in December with terms calling for a four year tentative agreement that preserved the pay scale for current flight attendants, boosted the top base pay rate to USD$50 an hour and included a no-furlough clause.

Continental said in a statement that it had been informed by the union, the International Association of Machinists (IAM), that it would certify the results and issue an official statement on Tuesday.