Continental Airlines Reports February 2010 Operational Performance

HOUSTON, March 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) today reported a February consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 77.7 percent, 5.2 points above the February 2009 consolidated load factor, and a mainline load factor of 78.1 percent, 5.2 points above the February 2009 mainline load factor.  Both February load factors were records for the month.  The carrier reported a domestic mainline February load factor of 80.6 percent, 2.9 points above the February 2009 domestic mainline load factor, and a record international mainline load factor of 75.9 percent, 7.5 points above February 2009.  

During February, Continental recorded a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on-time arrival rate of 75.0 percent and a mainline segment completion factor of 95.4 percent. Continental's operational results were adversely impacted by severe winter weather, particularly at its New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport.

In February 2010, Continental flew 6.1 billion consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and 7.8 billion consolidated available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a consolidated traffic increase of 3.3 percent and a capacity decrease of 3.8 percent as compared to February 2009. In February 2010, Continental flew 5.4 billion mainline RPMs and 6.9 billion mainline ASMs, resulting in a mainline traffic increase of 3.2 percent and a mainline capacity decrease of 3.7 percent as compared to February 2009. Domestic mainline traffic was 2.7 billion RPMs in February 2010, down 0.5 percent from February 2009, and domestic mainline capacity was 3.3 billion ASMs, down 4.1 percent from February 2009.

For February 2010, consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (RASM) is estimated to have increased between 7.5 and 8.5 percent compared to February 2009, while mainline RASM is estimated to have increased between 5.5 and 6.5 percent.

Continental estimates that the suspension of operations at its New York hub on February 10, 2010, and February 26, 2010, due to severe winter weather in the New York area reduced its consolidated passenger revenue for the month by approximately $25 million. The combination of available seat mile reductions caused by the two February snowstorms and the company's re-accommodation of many customers who were impacted by its flight cancellations resulted in a year-over-year RASM benefit of approximately one percentage point, compared to the year-over-year RASM performance the company would have expected had the company flown the capacity it cancelled as a result of the storms.

For January 2010, consolidated passenger RASM decreased 1.3 percent compared to January 2009, while mainline passenger RASM decreased 2.8 percent compared to January 2009.  

Continental's regional operations had a February load factor of 74.6 percent, 5.3 points above the February 2009 regional load factor. Regional RPMs were 657.0 million and regional ASMs were 880.2 million in February 2010, resulting in a traffic increase of 3.5 percent and a capacity decrease of 4.0 percent versus February 2009.

Continental Airlines is the world's fifth largest airline.  Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 2,500 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 133 domestic and 135 international destinations.   Continental is a member of Star Alliance, which overall offers 19,700 daily flights to 1,077 airports in 175 countries through its 26 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.

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 2009 Form 10-K and its other securities filings, including any amendments thereto, which identify important matters such as the potential for significant volatility in the cost of aircraft fuel, 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 continuing weakness in the U.S. and global economies, the airline pricing environment, terrorist attacks, regulatory matters, excessive taxation, industry consolidation and airline alliances, 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                       2010        2009             Change
    
    REVENUE PASSENGER
     MILES (000)           
      Domestic                   2,659,180   2,673,822      -0.5   Percent
    
      International              2,752,470   2,568,348       7.2   Percent
      Transatlantic              1,215,540   1,158,555       4.9   Percent
      Latin America                989,790     931,769       6.2   Percent
      Pacific                      547,140     478,024      14.5   Percent
                                             
      Mainline                   5,411,650   5,242,170       3.2   Percent
      Regional                     657,000     635,057       3.5   Percent
      Consolidated               6,068,650   5,877,227       3.3   Percent
    
    AVAILABLE SEAT
     MILES (000)              
      Domestic                   3,300,279   3,439,946      -4.1   Percent
                                             
      International              3,625,653   3,754,257      -3.4   Percent
      Transatlantic              1,672,655   1,855,310      -9.8   Percent
      Latin America              1,244,275   1,216,195       2.3   Percent
      Pacific                      708,723     682,752       3.8   Percent
                                             
      Mainline                   6,925,932   7,194,203      -3.7   Percent
      Regional                     880,233     917,000      -4.0   Percent
      Consolidated               7,806,165   8,111,203      -3.8   Percent
    
    PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR                   
      Domestic                80.6 Percent  77.7 Percent     2.9   Points
                                             
      International           75.9 Percent  68.4 Percent     7.5   Points
      Transatlantic           72.7 Percent  62.4 Percent    10.3   Points
      Latin America           79.5 Percent  76.6 Percent     2.9   Points
      Pacific                 77.2 Percent  70.0 Percent     7.2   Points
                                             
      Mainline                78.1 Percent  72.9 Percent     5.2   Points
      Regional                74.6 Percent  69.3 Percent     5.3   Points
      Consolidated            77.7 Percent  72.5 Percent     5.2   Points
    
    ONBOARD PASSENGERS                    
      Mainline                   3,138,019   3,182,980     -1.4    Percent
      Regional                   1,195,138   1,163,130      2.8    Percent
      Consolidated               4,333,157   4,346,110     -0.3    Percent
    
    CARGO REVENUE TON
     MILES (000)           
      Total                         78,335      63,763     22.9    Percent

    
    
                              PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC RESULTS
    YEAR-TO-DATE                    2010      2009              Change
    REVENUE PASSENGER
     MILES (000)                            
      Domestic                  5,571,841    5,519,051       1.0   Percent
                                             
      International             6,118,289    5,502,733      11.2   Percent
      Transatlantic             2,705,390    2,474,820       9.3   Percent
      Latin America             2,157,252    1,991,986       8.3   Percent
      Pacific                   1,255,647    1,035,927      21.2   Percent
                                             
      Mainline                 11,690,130   11,021,784       6.1   Percent
      Regional                  1,353,803    1,283,853       5.4   Percent
      Consolidated             13,043,933   12,305,637       6.0   Percent
    
    AVAILABLE SEAT
     MILES (000)                            
      Domestic                  7,024,535    7,155,672      -1.8   Percent
                                             
      International             7,952,871    7,848,764       1.3   Percent
      Transatlantic             3,619,871    3,888,795      -6.9   Percent
      Latin America             2,693,658    2,543,282       5.9   Percent
      Pacific                   1,639,342    1,416,687      15.7   Percent
                                             
      Mainline                 14,977,406   15,004,436      -0.2   Percent
      Regional                  1,865,166    1,892,959      -1.5   Percent
      Consolidated             16,842,572   16,897,395      -0.3   Percent
    
    PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR                   
      Domestic               79.3 Percent   77.1 Percent     2.2   Points
     
      International          76.9 Percent   70.1 Percent     6.8   Points
      Transatlantic          74.7 Percent   63.6 Percent    11.1   Points
      Latin America          80.1 Percent   78.3 Percent     1.8   Points
      Pacific                76.6 Percent   73.1 Percent     3.5   Points
                                             
      Mainline               78.1 Percent   73.5 Percent     4.6   Points
      Regional               72.6 Percent   67.8 Percent     4.8   Points
      Consolidated           77.4 Percent   72.8 Percent     4.6   Points
    
    ONBOARD PASSENGERS                      
      Mainline                  6,591,174    6,567,382       0.4   Percent
      Regional                  2,449,089    2,342,969       4.5   Percent
      Consolidated              9,040,263    8,910,351       1.5   Percent
    
    CARGO REVENUE TON
     MILES (000)                            
      Total                       162,976      126,867      28.5   Percent
           

    
    
    PRELIMINARY OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL RESULTS
    
    FEBRUARY                        2010        2009           Change
    
    On-Time Performance(1)          75.0%       77.7%       (2.7) Points
    Completion Factor(2)            95.4%       99.5%       (4.1) Points
    January 2010 year-over-year consolidated RASM change    (1.3) Percent
    January 2010 year-over-year mainline RASM change        (2.8) Percent
    February 2010 estimated year-over-year
     consolidated RASM change                          7.5 - 8.5  Percent
    February 2010 estimated year-over-year mainline
     RASM change                                       5.5 - 6.5  Percent
    February 2010 estimated average price per gallon
     of fuel, including fuel taxes                          2.10  Dollars
    First Quarter 2010 estimated average price per
     gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes                   2.13  Dollars
                                                     
    (1) Department of Transportation Arrivals within 14 minutes   
    (2) Mainline Segment Completion Percentage        
           
    

SOURCE Continental Airlines