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 MARCH 2010
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
 
HOUSTON, April 1, 2010 – Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) today reported a March consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 83.1 percent, 3.7 points above the March 2009 consolidated load factor, and a mainline load factor of 83.6 percent, 3.7 points above the March 2009 mainline load factor.  Both March load factors were records for the month.  The carrier reported a record domestic mainline March load factor of 85.8 percent, 1.5 points above the March 2009 domestic mainline load factor, and an international mainline load factor of 81.7 percent, 5.9 points above March 2009.
 
During March, Continental recorded a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on-time arrival rate of 77.7 percent and a mainline segment completion factor of 99.8 percent.
 
In March 2010, Continental flew 7.9 billion consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and 9.5 billion consolidated available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a consolidated traffic increase of 5.2 percent and a capacity increase of 0.5 percent as compared to March 2009. In March 2010, Continental flew 7.0 billion mainline RPMs and 8.4 billion mainline ASMs, resulting in a mainline traffic increase of 5.5 percent and a mainline capacity increase of 0.8 percent as compared to March 2009. Domestic mainline traffic was 3.4 billion RPMs in March 2010, up 0.3 percent from March 2009, and domestic mainline capacity was 4.0 billion ASMs, down 1.4 percent from March 2009.
 
For March 2010, consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (RASM) is estimated to have increased between 14.5 and 15.5 percent compared to March 2009, while mainline RASM is estimated to have increased between 13.0 and 14.0 percent.  For February 2010, consolidated passenger RASM increased 7.7 percent compared to February 2009, while mainline passenger RASM increased 5.8 percent compared to February 2009.
 
Continental ended the first quarter 2010 with an unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments balance of approximately $3.15 billion.
 
Continental’s regional operations had a March load factor of 79.2 percent, 3.5 points above the March 2009 regional load factor. Regional RPMs were 838.5 million and regional ASMs were 1,058.1 million in March 2010, resulting in a traffic increase of 2.8 percent and a capacity decrease of 1.8 percent versus March 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 nine consecutive years, FORTUNE magazine has ranked Continental as the top U.S. airline on its “World’s Most Admired Companies” airline industry list. 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
MARCH
2010
2009
Change
REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000)
        
 
Domestic
3,401,491
3,390,269
0.3
  
Percent
             
 
International
3,634,196
3,277,526
10.9
  
Percent
 
Transatlantic
1,664,863
1,565,813
6.3
  
Percent
 
Latin America
1,190,080
1,113,772
6.9
  
Percent
 
Pacific
779,253
597,941
30.3
  
Percent
             
 
Mainline
7,035,687
6,667,795
5.5
  
Percent
 
Regional
838,488
815,944
2.8
  
Percent
 
Consolidated
7,874,175
7,483,739
5.2
  
Percent
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000)
          
 
Domestic
3,963,739
4,020,884
-1.4
  
Percent
             
 
International
4,450,379
4,326,643
2.9
  
Percent
 
Transatlantic
2,084,057
2,135,950
-2.4
  
Percent
 
Latin America
1,446,105
1,390,708
4.0
  
Percent
 
Pacific
920,217
799,985
15.0
  
Percent
             
 
Mainline
8,414,118
8,347,527
0.8
  
Percent
 
Regional
1,058,134
1,078,017
-1.8
  
Percent
 
Consolidated
9,472,252
9,425,544
0.5
  
Percent
PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR
          
 
Domestic
 85.8 Percent
 84.3 Percent
1.5
  
Points
             
 
International
 81.7 Percent
 75.8 Percent
5.9
  
Points
 
Transatlantic
 79.9 Percent
 73.3 Percent
6.6
  
Points
 
Latin America
 82.3 Percent
 80.1 Percent
2.2
  
Points
 
Pacific
 84.7 Percent
 74.7 Percent
10.0
  
Points
             
 
Mainline
 83.6 Percent
 79.9 Percent
3.7
  
Points
 
Regional
 79.2 Percent
 75.7 Percent
3.5
  
Points
 
Consolidated
 83.1 Percent
 79.4 Percent
3.7
  
Points
ONBOARD PASSENGERS
          
 
Mainline
3,969,420
3,994,311
-0.6
  
Percent
 
Regional
1,523,566
1,503,202
1.4
  
Percent
 
Consolidated
5,492,986
5,497,513
-0.1
  
Percent
CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000)
        
 
Total
99,595
73,552
35.4
  
Percent


 
 
 


PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC RESULTS
YEAR-TO-DATE
2010
2009
Change
REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000)
        
 
Domestic
8,973,332
8,909,320
0.7
  
Percent
             
 
International
9,752,575
8,780,258
11.1
  
Percent
 
Transatlantic
4,370,343
4,040,633
8.2
  
Percent
 
Latin America
3,347,332
3,105,758
7.8
  
Percent
 
Pacific
2,034,900
1,633,867
24.5
  
Percent
             
 
Mainline
18,725,907
17,689,578
5.9
  
Percent
 
Regional
2,192,299
2,099,797
4.4
  
Percent
 
Consolidated
20,918,206
19,789,375
5.7
  
Percent
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000)
          
 
Domestic
10,988,274
11,176,555
-1.7
  
Percent
             
 
International
12,403,001
12,175,408
1.9
  
Percent
 
Transatlantic
5,703,679
6,024,745
-5.3
  
Percent
 
Latin America
4,139,763
3,933,991
5.2
  
Percent
 
Pacific
2,559,559
2,216,672
15.5
  
Percent
             
 
Mainline
23,391,275
23,351,963
0.2
  
Percent
 
Regional
2,923,310
2,970,976
-1.6
  
Percent
 
Consolidated
26,314,585
26,322,939
0.0
  
Percent
PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR
          
 
Domestic
81.7 Percent
79.7 Percent
2.0
  
Points
             
 
International
78.6 Percent
72.1 Percent
6.5
  
Points
 
Transatlantic
76.6 Percent
67.1 Percent
9.5
  
Points
 
Latin America
80.9 Percent
78.9 Percent
2.0
  
Points
 
Pacific
79.5 Percent
73.7 Percent
5.8
  
Points
             
 
Mainline
80.1 Percent
75.8 Percent
4.3
  
Points
 
Regional
75.0 Percent
70.7 Percent
4.3
  
Points
 
Consolidated
79.5 Percent
75.2 Percent
4.3
  
Points
ONBOARD PASSENGERS
          
 
Mainline
10,560,615
10,561,693
0.0
  
Percent
 
Regional
3,972,684
3,846,171
3.3
  
Percent
 
Consolidated
14,533,299
14,407,864
0.9
  
Percent
CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000)
        
 
Total
262,571
200,419
31.0
  
Percent


 
 
 


PRELIMINARY OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL RESULTS
MARCH
2010
2009
Change
On-Time Performance 1
77.7%
74.2%
          3.5
Points
Completion Factor 2
99.8%
99.0%
          0.8
Points
February 2010 year-over-year consolidated RASM change
          7.7
Percent
February 2010 year-over-year mainline RASM change
          5.8
Percent
March 2010 estimated year-over-year consolidated RASM change
 14.5 - 15.5
Percent
March 2010 estimated year-over-year mainline RASM change
 13.0 - 14.0
Percent
             
March 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
2.14
Dollars
             
1 Department of Transportation Arrivals within 14 minutes
    
2 Mainline Segment Completion Percentage
    
     
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