EX-99.1 2 f080309form8kexh991.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 f080309form8kexh991.htm

News Release
Exhibit 99.1
     
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 JULY 2009
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
HOUSTON, Aug. 3, 2009 – Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) today reported a July consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 87.3 percent, 3.1 points above the July 2008 consolidated load factor, and a mainline load factor of 87.8 percent, 2.5 points above the July 2008 mainline load factor.  The carrier reported a domestic mainline July load factor of 90.5 percent, 5.0 points above the July 2008 domestic mainline load factor.  All three July load factors were all-time records.  In addition, the airline had an international mainline load factor of 85.3 percent, 0.3 points above July 2008.
 
During the month, Continental recorded a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on-time arrival rate of 78.5 percent and a mainline segment completion factor of 99.6 percent.
 
In July 2009, Continental flew 8.9 billion consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and 10.2 billion consolidated available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a consolidated traffic decrease of 3.4 percent and a capacity decrease of 6.9 percent as compared to July 2008. In July 2009, Continental flew 8.0 billion mainline RPMs and 9.1 billion mainline ASMs, resulting in a mainline traffic decrease of 3.4 percent and a mainline capacity decrease of 6.3 percent as compared to July 2008. Domestic mainline traffic was 4.0 billion RPMs in July 2009, down 4.1 percent from July 2008, and domestic mainline capacity was 4.4 billion ASMs, down 9.5 percent from July 2008.
 
For July 2009, consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (RASM) is estimated to have decreased between 16.5 and 17.5 percent compared to July 2008, while mainline RASM is estimated to have decreased between 17.5 and 18.5 percent compared to July 2008.  For June 2009, consolidated passenger RASM decreased 19.9 percent compared to June 2008, while mainline passenger RASM decreased 19.6 percent compared to June 2008.
 
Continental’s regional operations had an all-time record July load factor of 83.3 percent, 7.3 points above the July 2008 regional load factor. Regional RPMs were 904.4 million and regional ASMs were 1,086.0 million in July 2009, resulting in a traffic decrease of 3.4 percent and a capacity decrease of 11.8 percent versus July 2008.
 
Continental Airlines is the world’s fifth largest airline.  Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 2,750 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 133 domestic and 132 international destinations. More than 750 additional points are served via current alliance partners.  With more than 43,000 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.

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PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC RESULTS
JULY
2009
2008
Change
REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000)
          
 
Domestic
4,001,103
4,174,137
-4.1
  
Percent
             
 
International
3,980,949
4,092,027
-2.7
  
Percent
 
Transatlantic
2,056,892
2,245,550
-8.4
  
Percent
 
Latin America
1,223,653
1,207,248
1.4
  
Percent
 
Pacific
700,404
639,229
9.6
  
Percent
             
 
Mainline
7,982,052
8,266,164
-3.4
  
Percent
 
Regional
904,401
935,824
-3.4
  
Percent
 
Consolidated
8,886,453
9,201,988
-3.4
  
Percent
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000)
          
 
Domestic
4,420,345
4,884,063
-9.5
  
Percent
             
 
International
4,667,213
4,812,171
-3.0
  
Percent
 
Transatlantic
2,390,795
2,660,924
-10.2
  
Percent
 
Latin America
1,384,104
1,366,080
1.3
  
Percent
 
Pacific
892,314
785,167
13.6
  
Percent
             
 
Mainline
9,087,558
9,696,234
-6.3
  
Percent
 
Regional
1,085,986
1,231,560
-11.8
  
Percent
 
Consolidated
10,173,544
10,927,794
-6.9
  
Percent
PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR
          
 
Domestic
 90.5 Percent
 85.5 Percent
5.0
  
Points
             
 
International
 85.3 Percent
 85.0 Percent
0.3
  
Points
 
Transatlantic
 86.0 Percent
 84.4 Percent
1.6
  
Points
 
Latin America
 88.4 Percent
 88.4 Percent
0.0
  
Point
 
Pacific
 78.5 Percent
 81.4 Percent
-2.9
  
Points
             
 
Mainline
 87.8 Percent
 85.3 Percent
2.5
  
Points
 
Regional
 83.3 Percent
 76.0 Percent
7.3
  
Points
 
Consolidated
 87.3 Percent
 84.2 Percent
3.1
  
Points
ONBOARD PASSENGERS
          
 
Mainline
4,499,357
4,699,434
-4.3
  
Percent
 
Regional
1,676,215
1,685,391
-0.5
  
Percent
 
Consolidated
6,175,572
6,384,825
-3.3
  
Percent
CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000)
          
 
Total
79,436
83,800
-5.2
  
Percent
             
             
   
( more )
        

 
 
 
PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC RESULTS
YEAR-TO-DATE
2009
2008
Change
REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000)
          
 
Domestic
23,417,499
25,985,334
-9.9
  
Percent
             
 
International
23,025,733
24,221,298
-4.9
  
Percent
 
Transatlantic
11,613,477
12,589,643
-7.8
  
Percent
 
Latin America
7,197,501
7,418,534
-3.0
  
Percent
 
Pacific
4,214,755
4,213,121
0.0
  
Percent
             
 
Mainline
46,443,232
50,206,632
-7.5
  
Percent
 
Regional
5,398,655
6,021,184
-10.3
  
Percent
 
Consolidated
51,841,887
56,227,816
-7.8
  
Percent
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000)
          
 
Domestic
27,758,649
31,044,992
-10.6
  
Percent
             
 
International
29,644,465
30,862,034
-3.9
  
Percent
 
Transatlantic
15,113,170
16,364,910
-7.6
  
Percent
 
Latin America
8,839,270
8,954,560
-1.3
  
Percent
 
Pacific
5,692,025
5,542,564
2.7
  
Percent
             
 
Mainline
57,403,114
61,907,026
-7.3
  
Percent
 
Regional
7,100,907
7,779,084
-8.7
  
Percent
 
Consolidated
64,504,021
69,686,110
-7.4
  
Percent
PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR
          
 
Domestic
84.4 Percent
83.7 Percent
0.7
  
Points
             
 
International
77.7 Percent
78.5 Percent
-0.8
  
Points
 
Transatlantic
76.8 Percent
76.9 Percent
-0.1
  
Points
 
Latin America
81.4 Percent
82.8 Percent
-1.4
  
Points
 
Pacific
74.0 Percent
76.0 Percent
-2.0
  
Points
             
 
Mainline
80.9 Percent
81.1 Percent
-0.2
  
Points
 
Regional
76.0 Percent
77.4 Percent
-1.4
  
Points
 
Consolidated
80.4 Percent
80.7 Percent
-0.3
  
Points
ONBOARD PASSENGERS
          
 
Mainline
26,937,018
29,895,496
-9.9
  
Percent
 
Regional
9,994,233
10,890,016
-8.2
  
Percent
 
Consolidated
36,931,251
40,785,512
-9.5
  
Percent
CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000)
          
 
Total
499,337
608,014
-17.9
  
Percent
             
             
   
( more )
        

 
 
 

PRELIMINARY OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL RESULTS
JULY
  
2009
2008
Change
On-Time Performance 1
78.5%
76.1%
                  2.4
 Points
Completion Factor 2
99.6%
99.1%
                  0.5
 Points
June 2009 year-over-year consolidated RASM change
  
              (19.9)
 Percent
June 2009 year-over-year mainline RASM change
  
              (19.6)
 Percent
July 2009 estimated year-over-year consolidated RASM change
 (16.5) - (17.5)
 Percent
July 2009 estimated year-over-year mainline RASM change
 (17.5) - (18.5)
 Percent
July 2009 estimated average price per gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes
1.98
 Dollars
Third Quarter 2009 estimated average price per gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes
1.96
 Dollars
             
1 Department of Transportation Arrivals within 14 minutes
      
2 Mainline Segment Completion Percentage
        
             
     
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