EX-99.1 2 f8k020108exh991.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 News Release

EXHIBIT 99.1

News Release

Contact: Corporate Communications

Houston: 713.324.5080

Email: corpcomm@coair.com

News archive: continental.com/company/news/ Address: P.O. Box 4607, Houston, TX 77210-4607

CONTINENTAL AIRLINES REPORTS JANUARY 2008

OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE

HOUSTON, Feb. 1, 2008 - Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) today reported a January consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 76.8 percent, 0.5 points above the January 2007 consolidated load factor. The carrier reported a mainline load factor of 77.4 percent, 0.6 points above the January 2007 mainline load factor, and a domestic mainline load factor of 79.6 percent, 1.5 points above January 2007. All three were records for the month. In addition, the airline reported an international mainline load factor of 75.1 percent, 0.2 points below January 2007.

During the month, Continental recorded a U.S. Department of Transportation on-time arrival rate of 74.7 percent and a mainline segment completion factor of 99.3 percent.

In January 2008, Continental flew 7.2 billion consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and 9.4 billion consolidated available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a traffic increase of 2.9 percent and a capacity increase of 2.1 percent as compared to January 2007. In January 2008, Continental flew 6.5 billion mainline RPMs and 8.4 billion mainline ASMs, resulting in a mainline traffic increase of 3.5 percent and a mainline capacity increase of 2.7 percent as compared to January 2007. Domestic mainline traffic was 3.3 billion RPMs in January 2008, down 0.8 percent from January 2007, and domestic mainline capacity was 4.2 billion ASMs, down 2.7 percent from January 2007.

For January 2008, both consolidated and mainline passenger revenue per available seat mile (RASM) are estimated to have increased between 9.0 and 10.0 percent compared to January 2007. For December 2007, consolidated passenger RASM increased 6.0 percent compared to December 2006, while mainline passenger RASM increased 5.8 percent from December 2006.

Continental's regional operations had a January load factor of 72.5 percent, 0.2 points above the January 2007 load factor. Regional RPMs were 743.9 million and regional ASMs were 1,025.9 million in January 2008, resulting in a traffic decrease of 2.1 percent and a capacity decrease of 2.3 percent versus January 2007.

Continental Airlines is the world's fifth largest airline. Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 2,900 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 144 domestic and 139 international destinations. More than 550 additional points are served via SkyTeam alliance airlines.  With more than 45,000 employees, Continental has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and together with Continental Express, carries approximately 69 million passengers per year. Continental consistently earns awards and critical acclaim for both its operation and its corporate culture.

For the fourth consecutive year, FORTUNE magazine named Continental the No. 1 World's Most Admired Airline on its 2007 list of World's Most Admired Companies. Continental was also named the No. 1 airline on the publication's 2007 America's Most Admired airline industry list. Additionally, Continental again won major awards at the OAG Airline of the Year Awards including "Best Airline Based in North America" for the fourth year in a row, and "Best Executive/Business Class" for the fifth consecutive year. For more company information, visit 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 2006 10-K and its other securities filings, including any amendments thereto, which identify important matters such as the consequences of the company's significant financial losses and high leverage, the significant cost of aircraft fuel, its high labor and pension costs, service interruptions at one of its hub airports, disruptions in its computer systems, and industry conditions, including the airline pricing environment, industry capacity decisions, industry consolidation, terrorist attacks, regulatory matters, excessive taxation, 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

2008

2007

Change

REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000)

Domestic

3,330,502

3,357,564

-0.8

Percent

International

3,145,738

2,902,056

8.4

Percent

Transatlantic

1,469,833

1,304,339

12.7

Percent

Latin America

1,036,253

979,492

5.8

Percent

Pacific

639,652

618,225

3.5

Percent

Mainline

6,476,240

6,259,620

3.5

Percent

Regional

743,921

759,639

-2.1

Percent

Consolidated

7,220,161

7,019,259

2.9

Percent

AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000)

Domestic

4,182,971

4,298,956

-2.7

Percent

International

4,187,116

3,852,024

8.7

Percent

Transatlantic

2,058,984

1,792,013

14.9

Percent

Latin America

1,274,060

1,225,435

4.0

Percent

Pacific

854,072

834,576

2.3

Percent

Mainline

8,370,087

8,150,980

2.7

Percent

Regional

1,025,893

1,050,400

-2.3

Percent

Consolidated

9,395,980

9,201,380

2.1

Percent


PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR

Domestic

79.6 Percent

78.1 Percent

1.5

Points

International

75.1 Percent

75.3 Percent

-0.2

Points

Transatlantic

71.4 Percent

72.8 Percent

-1.4

Points

Latin America

81.3 Percent

79.9 Percent

1.4

Points

Pacific

74.9 Percent

74.1 Percent

0.8

Points

Mainline

77.4 Percent

76.8 Percent

0.6

Points

Regional

72.5 Percent

72.3 Percent

0.2

Points

Consolidated

76.8 Percent

76.3 Percent

0.5

Points


ONBOARD PASSENGERS

Mainline

3,893,304

3,857,105

0.9

Percent

Regional

1,339,581

1,354,538

-1.1

Percent

Consolidated

5,232,885

5,211,643

0.4

Percent

CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000)

Total

78,976

80,063

-1.4

Percent

 

 

 

PRELIMINARY OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL RESULTS

JANUARY

2008

2007

Change

On-Time Performance 1

74.7%

74.3%

0.4

Points

Completion Factor 2

99.3%

99.3%

-

Points

December 2007 year-over-year consolidated RASM change

6.0

Percent

December 2007 year-over-year mainline RASM change

5.8

Percent

January 2008 estimated year-over-year consolidated RASM change

9.0 - 10.0

Percent

January 2008 estimated year-over-year mainline RASM change

9.0 - 10.0

Percent

January 2008 estimated average price per gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes

2.72

Dollars

First Quarter 2008 estimated average price per gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes

2.68

Dollars

1 Department of Transportation Arrivals within 14 minutes

2 Mainline Segment Completion Percentage

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