EX-99.1 2 fexhibit991.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 fexhibit991.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 NOVEMBER 2009
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
 
HOUSTON, Dec. 1, 2009 – Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) today reported a November consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 80.5 percent, 3.2 points above the November 2008 consolidated load factor, and a record mainline load factor of 81.1 percent, 3.3 points above the November 2008 mainline load factor.  The carrier reported a domestic mainline November load factor of 83.3 percent, 2.7 points above the November 2008 domestic mainline load factor, and a record international mainline load factor of 78.8 percent, 3.8 points above November 2008.
 
During November, Continental recorded a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on-time arrival rate of 86.2 percent, a record for the month, and a mainline segment completion factor of 99.6 percent.
 
In November 2009, Continental flew 6.8 billion consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and 8.4 billion consolidated available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a consolidated traffic increase of 2.9 percent and a capacity decrease of 1.2 percent as compared to November 2008. In November 2009, Continental flew 6.0 billion mainline RPMs and 7.4 billion mainline ASMs, resulting in a mainline traffic increase of 2.7 percent and a mainline capacity decrease of 1.4 percent as compared to November 2008. Domestic mainline traffic was 3.2 billion RPMs in November 2009, up 2.9 percent from November 2008, and domestic mainline capacity was 3.8 billion ASMs, down 0.5 percent from November 2008.
 
For November 2009, consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (RASM) is estimated to have decreased between 7.0 and 9.0 percent compared to November 2008, while mainline RASM is estimated to have decreased between 8.0 and 10.0 percent. The ranges of the year-over-year RASM estimates for the month of November are wider than usual due to processing delays associated with the transition to Star Alliance.
 
For October 2009, consolidated passenger RASM decreased 14.2 percent compared to October 2008, while mainline passenger RASM decreased 15.2 percent compared to October 2008.
 
Continental anticipates ending 2009 with an unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments balance of approximately $2.5 billion.
 
Continental’s regional operations had a November load factor of 75.9 percent, 2.8 points above the November 2008 regional load factor. Regional RPMs were 743.8 million and regional ASMs were 980.4 million in November 2009, resulting in a traffic increase of 4.0 percent and a capacity increase of 0.3 percent versus November 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.

(more)
 
 
 


PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC RESULTS
NOVEMBER
2009
2008
Change
REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000)
        
 
Domestic
3,167,699
3,079,293
2.9
  
Percent
             
 
International
2,856,964
2,784,408
2.6
  
Percent
 
Transatlantic
1,412,455
1,465,741
-3.6
  
Percent
 
Latin America
848,364
801,485
5.8
  
Percent
 
Pacific
596,145
517,182
15.3
  
Percent
             
 
Mainline
6,024,663
5,863,701
2.7
  
Percent
 
Regional
743,767
715,003
4.0
  
Percent
 
Consolidated
6,768,430
6,578,704
2.9
  
Percent
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000)
          
 
Domestic
3,801,151
3,819,969
-0.5
  
Percent
             
 
International
3,623,427
3,712,195
-2.4
  
Percent
 
Transatlantic
1,762,500
1,986,001
-11.3
  
Percent
 
Latin America
1,053,031
1,016,962
3.5
  
Percent
 
Pacific
807,896
709,232
13.9
  
Percent
             
 
Mainline
7,424,578
7,532,164
-1.4
  
Percent
 
Regional
980,376
977,543
0.3
  
Percent
 
Consolidated
8,404,954
8,509,707
-1.2
  
Percent
PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR
          
 
Domestic
 83.3 Percent
 80.6 Percent
2.7
  
Points
             
 
International
 78.8 Percent
 75.0 Percent
3.8
  
Points
 
Transatlantic
 80.1 Percent
 73.8 Percent
6.3
  
Points
 
Latin America
 80.6 Percent
 78.8 Percent
1.8
  
Points
 
Pacific
 73.8 Percent
 72.9 Percent
0.9
  
Points
             
 
Mainline
 81.1 Percent
 77.8 Percent
3.3
  
Points
 
Regional
 75.9 Percent
 73.1 Percent
2.8
  
Points
 
Consolidated
 80.5 Percent
 77.3 Percent
3.2
  
Points
ONBOARD PASSENGERS
          
 
Mainline
3,470,421
3,487,165
-0.5
  
Percent
 
Regional
1,374,653
1,325,422
3.7
  
Percent
 
Consolidated
4,845,074
4,812,587
0.7
  
Percent
CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000)
        
 
Total
92,020
79,021
16.5
  
Percent


 
 
 


PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC RESULTS
YEAR-TO-DATE
2009
2008
Change
REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000)
        
 
Domestic
37,133,151
39,504,455
-6.0
  
Percent
             
 
International
35,954,063
36,967,642
-2.7
  
Percent
 
Transatlantic
18,482,625
19,814,324
-6.7
  
Percent
 
Latin America
10,587,178
10,652,411
-0.6
  
Percent
 
Pacific
6,884,260
6,500,907
5.9
  
Percent
             
 
Mainline
73,087,214
76,472,097
-4.4
  
Percent
 
Regional
8,510,015
9,103,936
-6.5
  
Percent
 
Consolidated
81,597,229
85,576,033
-4.6
  
Percent
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000)
          
 
Domestic
43,798,617
47,447,699
-7.7
  
Percent
             
 
International
45,542,892
47,198,249
-3.5
  
Percent
 
Transatlantic
23,306,459
25,674,637
-9.2
  
Percent
 
Latin America
13,036,567
12,991,056
0.4
  
Percent
 
Pacific
9,199,866
8,532,556
7.8
  
Percent
             
 
Mainline
89,341,509
94,645,948
-5.6
  
Percent
 
Regional
11,124,994
11,963,468
-7.0
  
Percent
 
Consolidated
100,466,503
106,609,416
-5.8
  
Percent
PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR
          
 
Domestic
84.8 Percent
83.3 Percent
1.5
  
Points
             
 
International
78.9 Percent
78.3 Percent
0.6
  
Points
 
Transatlantic
79.3 Percent
77.2 Percent
2.1
  
Points
 
Latin America
81.2 Percent
82.0 Percent
-0.8
  
Points
 
Pacific
74.8 Percent
76.2 Percent
-1.4
  
Points
             
 
Mainline
81.8 Percent
80.8 Percent
1.0
  
Point
 
Regional
76.5 Percent
76.1 Percent
0.4
  
Points
 
Consolidated
81.2 Percent
80.3 Percent
0.9
  
Points
ONBOARD PASSENGERS
          
 
Mainline
41,740,782
44,894,665
-7.0
  
Percent
 
Regional
15,775,617
16,597,677
-5.0
  
Percent
 
Consolidated
57,516,399
61,492,342
-6.5
  
Percent
CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000)
        
 
Total
852,270
934,259
-8.8
  
Percent


 
 
 


PRELIMINARY OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL RESULTS
NOVEMBER
2009
2008
Change
On-Time Performance 1
86.2%
80.7%
                5.5
  Points
Completion Factor 2
99.6%
99.9%
              (0.3)
  Points
October 2009 year-over-year consolidated RASM change
             (14.2)
  Percent
October 2009 year-over-year mainline RASM change
             (15.2)
  Percent
November 2009 estimated year-over-year consolidated RASM change
 (7.0) - (9.0)
  Percent
November 2009 estimated year-over-year mainline RASM change
 (8.0) - (10.0)
  Percent
November 2009 estimated average price per gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes
2.05
  Dollars
Fourth Quarter 2009 estimated average price per gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes
1.99
  Dollars
             
1 Department of Transportation Arrivals within 14 minutes
    
2 Mainline Segment Completion Percentage
    
             
     
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