Continental Airlines Reports October 2009 Operational Performance

HOUSTON, Nov 02, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) today reported an October consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 82.5 percent, 3.5 points above the October 2008 consolidated load factor, and a mainline load factor of 83.0 percent, 3.5 points above the October 2008 mainline load factor. The carrier reported a domestic mainline October load factor of 85.4 percent, 2.4 points above the October 2008 domestic mainline load factor, and an international mainline load factor of 80.4 percent, 4.5 points above October 2008. All four October load factors were records for the month.

During the month, Continental recorded a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on-time arrival rate of 75.1 percent and a mainline segment completion factor of 99.8 percent.

In October 2009, Continental flew 7.3 billion consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and 8.8 billion consolidated available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a consolidated traffic increase of 1.7 percent and a capacity decrease of 2.6 percent as compared to October 2008. In October 2009, Continental flew 6.5 billion mainline RPMs and 7.8 billion mainline ASMs, resulting in a mainline traffic increase of 1.9 percent and a mainline capacity decrease of 2.4 percent as compared to October 2008. Domestic mainline traffic was 3.4 billion RPMs in October 2009, up 2.3 percent from October 2008, and domestic mainline capacity was 4.0 billion ASMs, down 0.6 percent from October 2008.

For October 2009, consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (RASM) is estimated to have decreased between 14.0 and 15.0 percent compared to October 2008, while mainline RASM is estimated to have decreased between 15.0 and 16.0 percent. For September 2009, consolidated passenger RASM decreased 19.2 percent compared to September 2008, while mainline passenger RASM decreased 21.1 percent compared to September 2008.

Continental's regional operations had a record October load factor of 78.2 percent, 3.3 points above the October 2008 regional load factor. Regional RPMs were 782.0 million, and regional ASMs were 999.9 million in October 2009, resulting in a traffic decrease of 0.4 percent and a capacity decrease of 4.6 percent versus October 2008.

Continental Airlines is the world's fifth largest airline. Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 2,400 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 130 domestic and 132 international destinations. Continental is a member of Star Alliance, which provides access to more than 900 additional points in 169 countries via 24 other member airlines. With more than 41,000 employees, Continental has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and together with its regional partners, carries approximately 63 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 Form 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

OCTOBER 2009 2008 Change

REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000)

Domestic 3,443,318 3,365,484 2.3 Percent

International 3,030,719 2,984,903 1.5 Percent

Transatlantic 1,644,064 1,755,376 -6.3 Percent

Latin America 739,631 677,785 9.1 Percent

Pacific 647,024 551,742 17.3 Percent

Mainline 6,474,037 6,350,387 1.9 Percent

Regional 781,992 785,161 -0.4 Percent

Consolidated 7,256,029 7,135,548 1.7 Percent

AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000)

Domestic 4,031,299 4,054,927 -0.6 Percent

International 3,767,528 3,934,229 -4.2 Percent

Transatlantic 1,961,433 2,321,162 -15.5 Percent

Latin America 922,287 864,651 6.7 Percent

Pacific 883,808 748,416 18.1 Percent

Mainline 7,798,827 7,989,156 -2.4 Percent

Regional 999,920 1,048,292 -4.6 Percent

Consolidated 8,798,747 9,037,448 -2.6 Percent

PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR

Domestic 85.4 Percent 83.0 Percent 2.4 Points

International 80.4 Percent 75.9 Percent 4.5 Points

Transatlantic 83.8 Percent 75.6 Percent 8.2 Points

Latin America 80.2 Percent 78.4 Percent 1.8 Points

Pacific 73.2 Percent 73.7 Percent -0.5 Points

Mainline 83.0 Percent 79.5 Percent 3.5 Points

Regional 78.2 Percent 74.9 Percent 3.3 Points

Consolidated 82.5 Percent 79.0 Percent 3.5 Points

ONBOARD PASSENGERS

Mainline 3,652,061 3,693,011 -1.1 Percent

Regional 1,468,653 1,477,464 -0.6 Percent

Consolidated 5,120,714 5,170,475 -1.0 Percent

CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000)

Total 95,482 85,671 11.5 Percent

PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC RESULTS

YEAR-TO-DATE 2009 2008 Change

REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000)

Domestic 33,965,452 36,425,162 -6.8 Percent

International 33,097,127 34,183,234 -3.2 Percent

Transatlantic 17,070,170 18,348,583 -7.0 Percent

Latin America 9,738,816 9,850,926 -1.1 Percent

Pacific 6,288,141 5,983,725 5.1 Percent

Mainline 67,062,579 70,608,396 -5.0 Percent

Regional 7,766,247 8,388,933 -7.4 Percent

Consolidated 74,828,826 78,997,329 -5.3 Percent

AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000)

Domestic 39,997,466 43,627,730 -8.3 Percent

International 41,919,466 43,486,054 -3.6 Percent

Transatlantic 21,543,959 23,688,636 -9.1 Percent

Latin America 11,983,537 11,974,094 0.1 Percent

Pacific 8,391,970 7,823,324 7.3 Percent

Mainline 81,916,932 87,113,784 -6.0 Percent

Regional 10,144,618 10,985,925 -7.7 Percent

Consolidated 92,061,550 98,099,709 -6.2 Percent

PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR

Domestic 84.9 Percent 83.5 Percent 1.4 Points

International 79.0 Percent 78.6 Percent 0.4 Points

Transatlantic 79.2 Percent 77.5 Percent 1.7 Points

Latin America 81.3 Percent 82.3 Percent -1.0 Point

Pacific 74.9 Percent 76.5 Percent -1.6 Points

Mainline 81.9 Percent 81.1 Percent 0.8 Points

Regional 76.6 Percent 76.4 Percent 0.2 Points

Consolidated 81.3 Percent 80.5 Percent 0.8 Points

ONBOARD PASSENGERS

Mainline 38,270,367 41,407,500 -7.6 Percent

Regional 14,400,964 15,272,255 -5.7 Percent

Consolidated 52,671,331 56,679,755 -7.1 Percent

CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000)

Total 760,250 855,238 -11.1 Percent

PRELIMINARY OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL RESULTS

OCTOBER 2009 2008 Change

On-Time Performance(1) 75.1% 81.4% (6.3) Points

Completion Factor(2) 99.8% 99.7% 0.1 Points

September 2009 year-over-year consolidated

RASM change (19.2) Percent

September 2009 year-over-year mainline

RASM change (21.1) Percent

October 2009 estimated year-over-year

consolidated RASM change (14.0) - (15.0) Percent

October 2009 estimated year-over-year

mainline RASM change (15.0) - (16.0) Percent

October 2009 estimated average price per

gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes 1.89 Dollars

Fourth Quarter 2009 estimated average

price per gallon of fuel, including fuel

taxes 2.06 Dollars

(1) Department of Transportation Arrivals within 14 minutes

(2) Mainline Segment Completion Percentage SOURCE Continental Airlines URL: http://www.continental.com www.prnewswire.com Copyright (C) 2009 PR Newswire. All rights reserved -0- KEYWORD: Texas INDUSTRY KEYWORD: AIR

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