HOUSTON, March 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continental Airlines
(NYSE: CAL) today reported a February consolidated (mainline plus
regional) load factor of 72.5 percent, 3.5 points below the
February 2008 consolidated load factor, and a mainline load factor
of 72.9 percent, 3.1 points below the February 2008 mainline load
factor. In addition, the carrier reported a domestic mainline
February load factor of 77.7 percent, 3.0 points below the February
2008 domestic mainline load factor, and an international mainline
load factor of 68.4 percent, 2.9 points below February 2008. During
the month, Continental recorded a U.S. Department of Transportation
(DOT) on-time arrival rate of 77.7 percent and a mainline segment
completion factor of 99.5 percent. In February 2009, Continental
flew 5.9 billion consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and
8.1 billion consolidated available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in
a consolidated traffic decrease of 13.2 percent and a consolidated
capacity decrease of 8.9 percent as compared to February 2008. In
February 2009, Continental flew 5.2 billion mainline RPMs and 7.2
billion mainline ASMs, resulting in a mainline traffic decrease of
13.1 percent and a mainline capacity decrease of 9.4 percent as
compared to February 2008. Domestic mainline traffic was 2.7
billion RPMs in February 2009, down 17.2 percent from February
2008, and domestic mainline capacity was 3.4 billion ASMs, down
14.0 percent from February 2008. For February 2009, consolidated
passenger revenue per available seat mile (RASM) is estimated to
have decreased between 11.5 and 12.5 percent compared to February
2008, while mainline passenger RASM is estimated to have decreased
between 9.5 and 10.5 percent compared to February 2008. For January
2009, consolidated passenger RASM decreased 4.8 percent compared to
January 2008, while mainline passenger RASM decreased 3.4 percent
compared to January 2008. Continental's regional operations had a
February load factor of 69.3 percent, 6.5 points below the February
2008 regional load factor. Regional RPMs were 635.1 million and
regional ASMs were 917.0 million in February 2009, resulting in a
traffic decrease of 13.5 percent and a capacity decrease of 5.4
percent versus February 2008. Continental Airlines is the world's
fifth largest airline. Continental, together with Continental
Express and Continental Connection, has more than 2,800 daily
departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 135
domestic and 132 international destinations. More than 650
additional points are served via alliance partners. With more than
42,000 employees, Continental has hubs serving New York, Houston,
Cleveland and Guam, and together with Continental Express, carries
approximately 67 million passengers per year. Celebrating its 75th
anniversary this year, Continental consistently earns awards and
critical acclaim for both its operation and its corporate culture.
For the sixth consecutive year, FORTUNE magazine named Continental
the No. 1 World's Most Admired Airline on its 2009 list of World's
Most Admired Companies. For more company information, go to
continental.com. This press release contains forward-looking
statements that are not limited to historical facts, but reflect
the company's current beliefs, expectations or intentions regarding
future events. All forward-looking statements involve risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those in the forward-looking statements. For examples of such
risks and uncertainties, please see the risk factors set forth in
the company's 2008 10-K and its other securities filings, including
any amendments thereto, which identify important matters such as
the significant volatility in the cost of aircraft fuel, its
transition to a new global alliance, the consequences of its high
leverage and other significant capital commitments, its high labor
and pension costs, delays in scheduled aircraft deliveries, service
interruptions at one of its hub airports, disruptions to the
operations of its regional operators, disruptions in its computer
systems, and industry conditions, including the recession in the
U.S. and global economies, the airline pricing environment,
terrorist attacks, regulatory matters, excessive taxation, industry
consolidation, the availability and cost of insurance, public
health threats and the seasonal nature of the airline business. The
company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that
may arise after the date of this press release, except as required
by applicable law. PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC RESULTS FEBRUARY 2009 2008
Change REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000) Domestic 2,673,822 3,227,535
-17.2 Percent International 2,568,348 2,806,592 -8.5 Percent
Transatlantic 1,158,555 1,290,928 -10.3 Percent Latin America
931,769 977,001 -4.6 Percent Pacific 478,024 538,663 -11.3 Percent
Mainline 5,242,170 6,034,127 -13.1 Percent Regional 635,057 734,042
-13.5 Percent Consolidated 5,877,227 6,768,169 -13.2 Percent
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000) Domestic 3,439,946 4,000,174 -14.0
Percent International 3,754,257 3,936,249 -4.6 Percent
Transatlantic 1,855,310 1,945,939 -4.7 Percent Latin America
1,216,195 1,220,033 -0.3 Percent Pacific 682,752 770,277 -11.4
Percent Mainline 7,194,203 7,936,423 -9.4 Percent Regional 917,000
968,983 -5.4 Percent Consolidated 8,111,203 8,905,406 -8.9 Percent
PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR Domestic 77.7 Percent 80.7 Percent -3.0
Points International 68.4 Percent 71.3 Percent -2.9 Points
Transatlantic 62.4 Percent 66.3 Percent -3.9 Points Latin America
76.6 Percent 80.1 Percent -3.5 Points Pacific 70.0 Percent 69.9
Percent 0.1 Points Mainline 72.9 Percent 76.0 Percent -3.1 Points
Regional 69.3 Percent 75.8 Percent -6.5 Points Consolidated 72.5
Percent 76.0 Percent -3.5 Points ONBOARD PASSENGERS Mainline
3,182,980 3,763,301 -15.4 Percent Regional 1,163,130 1,324,155
-12.2 Percent Consolidated 4,346,110 5,087,456 -14.6 Percent CARGO
REVENUE TON MILES (000) Total 63,763 82,228 -22.5 Percent
PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC RESULTS YEAR-TO-DATE 2009 2008 Change REVENUE
PASSENGER MILES (000) Domestic 5,519,051 6,558,037 -15.8 Percent
International 5,502,733 5,952,330 -7.6 Percent Transatlantic
2,474,820 2,760,761 -10.4 Percent Latin America 1,991,986 2,013,254
-1.1 Percent Pacific 1,035,927 1,178,315 -12.1 Percent Mainline
11,021,784 12,510,367 -11.9 Percent Regional 1,283,853 1,477,963
-13.1 Percent Consolidated 12,305,637 13,988,330 -12.0 Percent
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000) Domestic 7,155,672 8,183,145 -12.6
Percent International 7,848,764 8,123,365 -3.4 Percent
Transatlantic 3,888,795 4,004,923 -2.9 Percent Latin America
2,543,282 2,494,093 2.0 Percent Pacific 1,416,687 1,624,349 -12.8
Percent Mainline 15,004,436 16,306,510 -8.0 Percent Regional
1,892,959 1,994,876 -5.1 Percent Consolidated 16,897,395 18,301,386
-7.7 Percent PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR Domestic 77.1 Percent 80.1
Percent -3.0 Points International 70.1 Percent 73.3 Percent -3.2
Points Transatlantic 63.6 Percent 68.9 Percent -5.3 Points Latin
America 78.3 Percent 80.7 Percent -2.4 Points Pacific 73.1 Percent
72.5 Percent 0.6 Points Mainline 73.5 Percent 76.7 Percent -3.2
Points Regional 67.8 Percent 74.1 Percent -6.3 Points Consolidated
72.8 Percent 76.4 Percent -3.6 Points ONBOARD PASSENGERS Mainline
6,567,382 7,656,605 -14.2 Percent Regional 2,342,969 2,663,736
-12.0 Percent Consolidated 8,910,351 10,320,341 -13.7 Percent CARGO
REVENUE TON MILES (000) Total 126,885 167,816 -24.4 Percent
PRELIMINARY OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL RESULTS FEBRUARY 2009 2008
Change On-Time Performance (1) 77.7% 70.2% 7.5 Points Completion
Factor (2) 99.5% 98.6% 0.9 Points January 2009 year-over-year
consolidated RASM change (4.8) Percent January 2009 year-over-year
mainline RASM change (3.4) Percent February 2009 estimated
year-over-year consolidated RASM change (11.5)-(12.5) Percent
February 2009 estimated year-over-year mainline RASM change
(9.5)-(10.5) Percent February 2009 estimated average price per
gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes 1.91 Dollars First Quarter
2009 estimated average price per gallon of fuel, including fuel
taxes 1.90 Dollars (1) Department of Transportation Arrivals within
14 minutes (2) Mainline Segment Completion Percentage DATASOURCE:
Continental Airlines CONTACT: Corporate Communications of
Continental Airlines, +1-713-324-5080, Web Site:
http://www.continental.com/
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