Continental Airlines Reports January 2010 Operational Performance

HOUSTON, Feb. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) today reported a January consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 77.2 percent, 4.0 points above the January 2009 consolidated load factor, and a mainline load factor of 78.0 percent, 4.0 points above the January 2009 mainline load factor.  Both January load factors were records for the month.  The carrier reported a domestic mainline January load factor of 78.2 percent, 1.6 points above the January 2009 domestic mainline load factor, and a record international mainline load factor of 77.8 percent, 6.1 points above January 2009.  

During January, Continental recorded a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on-time arrival rate of 82.3 percent and a mainline segment completion factor of 99.5 percent.

In January 2010, Continental flew 7.0 billion consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and 9.0 billion consolidated available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a consolidated traffic increase of 8.5 percent and a capacity increase of 2.8 percent as compared to January 2009. In January 2010, Continental flew 6.3 billion mainline RPMs and 8.1 billion mainline ASMs, resulting in a mainline traffic increase of 8.6 percent and a mainline capacity increase of 3.1 percent as compared to January 2009. Domestic mainline traffic was 2.9 billion RPMs in January 2010, up 2.4 percent from January 2009, and domestic mainline capacity was 3.7 billion ASMs, up 0.2 percent from January 2009.

For January 2010, consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (RASM) is estimated to have decreased between 1.0 and 2.0 percent compared to January 2009, while mainline RASM is estimated to have decreased between 2.5 and 3.5 percent. For December 2009, consolidated passenger RASM decreased 4.1 percent compared to December 2008, while mainline passenger RASM decreased 4.8 percent compared to December 2008.  

Continental's regional operations had a January load factor of 70.7 percent, 4.2 points above the January 2009 regional load factor. Regional RPMs were 696.8 million and regional ASMs were 984.9 million in January 2010, resulting in a traffic increase of 7.4 percent and a capacity increase of 0.9 percent versus January 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 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
    
    JANUARY                        2010              2009   Change
    REVENUE PASSENGER
     MILES (000)
      Domestic                2,912,661         2,845,229   2.4  Percent
    
      International           3,365,819         2,934,385  14.7  Percent
      Transatlantic           1,489,850         1,316,265  13.2  Percent
      Latin America           1,167,462         1,060,217  10.1  Percent
      Pacific                   708,507           557,903  27.0  Percent
    
      Mainline                6,278,480         5,779,614   8.6  Percent
      Regional                  696,803           648,796   7.4  Percent
      Consolidated            6,975,283         6,428,410   8.5  Percent
    
    AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000)
      Domestic                3,724,256         3,715,726   0.2  Percent
    
      International           4,327,218         4,094,507   5.7  Percent
      Transatlantic           1,947,216         2,033,485  -4.2  Percent
      Latin America           1,449,383         1,327,087   9.2  Percent
      Pacific                   930,619           733,935  26.8  Percent
    
      Mainline                8,051,474         7,810,233   3.1  Percent
      Regional                  984,944           975,959   0.9  Percent
      Consolidated            9,036,418         8,786,192   2.8  Percent
    
    PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR
      Domestic             78.2 Percent      76.6 Percent   1.6  Points
    
      International        77.8 Percent      71.7 Percent   6.1  Points
      Transatlantic        76.5 Percent      64.7 Percent  11.8  Points
      Latin America        80.5 Percent      79.9 Percent   0.6  Points
      Pacific              76.1 Percent      76.0 Percent   0.1  Points
    
      Mainline             78.0 Percent      74.0 Percent   4.0  Points
      Regional             70.7 Percent      66.5 Percent   4.2  Points
      Consolidated         77.2 Percent      73.2 Percent   4.0  Points
    
    ONBOARD PASSENGERS
      Mainline                3,453,155         3,384,402   2.0  Percent
      Regional                1,253,951         1,179,839   6.3  Percent
      Consolidated            4,707,106         4,564,241   3.1  Percent
    
    CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000)
      Total                      64,381            63,103   2.0  Percent
    
    
    

    
    
                        PRELIMINARY OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL RESULTS
    
    JANUARY                                     2010        2009  Change
    On-Time Performance (1)                    82.3%       77.4%  4.9  Points
    Completion Factor (2)                      99.5%       99.3%  0.2  Points
    December 2009 year-over-year consolidated RASM change        (4.1) Percent
    December 2009 year-over-year mainline RASM change            (4.8) Percent
    January 2010 estimated year-over-year consolidated
     RASM change                                        (1.0) - (2.0)  Percent
    January 2010 estimated year-over-year mainline
     RASM change                                        (2.5) - (3.5)  Percent
    January 2010 estimated average price per gallon of
     fuel, including fuel taxes                                  2.16  Dollars
    First Quarter 2010 estimated average price per gallon 
    of fuel, including fuel taxes                                2.10  Dollars
    
    (1) Department of Transportation Arrivals within 14 minutes
    (2) Mainline Segment Completion Percentage      
                                                     
                                                     
    

SOURCE Continental Airlines