EX-99.1 2 exhibit991.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 exhibit991.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 APRIL 2010
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
 
HOUSTON, May 3, 2010 – Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) today reported an April  consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 82.9 percent, 0.6 points above the April 2009 consolidated load factor and a mainline load factor of 83.4 percent, 0.3 points above the April 2009 mainline load factor.  Both April load factors were records for the month.  The carrier reported an April domestic mainline load factor of 86.0 percent, 0.4 points below the April 2009 domestic mainline load factor, and a record international mainline load factor of 80.9 percent, 0.8 points above April 2009.

During April, Continental recorded a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on-time arrival rate of 86.0 percent and a mainline segment completion factor of 98.5 percent.

In April 2010, Continental flew 7.4 billion consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and 8.9 billion consolidated available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a consolidated traffic decrease of 2.6 percent and a capacity decrease of 3.2 percent as compared to April 2009.  In April 2010, Continental flew 6.5 billion mainline RPMs and 7.9 billion mainline ASMs, resulting in a mainline traffic decrease of 3.6 percent and a mainline capacity decrease of 3.9 percent as compared to April 2009.  Domestic mainline traffic was 3.3 billion RPMs in April 2010, down 3.4 percent from April 2009, and domestic mainline capacity was 3.8 billion ASMs, down 3.0 percent from April 2009.

For April 2010, consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (RASM) is estimated to have increased between 14.0 and 15.0 percent compared to April 2009, while mainline RASM is estimated to have increased between 12.0 and 13.0 percent. For March 2010, consolidated passenger RASM increased 15.0 percent compared to March 2009, while mainline passenger RASM increased 13.4 percent compared to March 2009.

Continental’s operations during the month of April were adversely impacted by a volcanic ash plume in Europe that led to the cancellation of 403 transatlantic flights.  Continental estimates that the suspension of these flights during April 2010 resulted in a reduction of 275 million available seat miles, and reduced its consolidated passenger revenue for the month by approximately $24 million.  The net effect of the reduction in available seat miles and passenger revenue resulted in a year-over-year RASM benefit of approximately one percentage point, as compared to the RASM performance the company would have expected had the company flown the capacity it cancelled as a result of the volcanic ash plume.

 Continental’s regional operations had an April load factor of 79.5 percent, 3.1 points above the April 2009 regional load factor.  Regional RPMs were 826.6 million and regional ASMs were 1,039.6 million in April 2010, resulting in a traffic increase of 6.4 percent and a capacity increase of 2.3 percent versus April 2009.

Continental Airlines is the world’s fifth largest airline.  Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 2,700 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 132 domestic and 137 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 40,000 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.

(more)
 
 
 


PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC RESULTS
APRIL
2010
2009
Change
REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000)
        
 
Domestic
3,252,390
3,365,954
-3.4
  
Percent
             
 
International
3,293,565
3,424,161
-3.8
  
Percent
 
Transatlantic
1,504,831
1,742,205
-13.6
  
Percent
 
Latin America
1,082,896
1,051,435
3.0
  
Percent
 
Pacific
705,838
630,521
11.9
  
Percent
             
 
Mainline
6,545,955
6,790,115
-3.6
  
Percent
 
Regional
826,642
776,635
6.4
  
Percent
 
Consolidated
7,372,597
7,566,750
-2.6
  
Percent
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000)
          
 
Domestic
3,780,167
3,896,376
-3.0
  
Percent
             
 
International
4,071,888
4,275,932
-4.8
  
Percent
 
Transatlantic
1,826,085
2,114,448
-13.6
  
Percent
 
Latin America
1,370,602
1,305,467
5.0
  
Percent
 
Pacific
875,201
856,017
2.2
  
Percent
             
 
Mainline
7,852,055
8,172,308
-3.9
  
Percent
 
Regional
1,039,621
1,016,369
2.3
  
Percent
 
Consolidated
8,891,676
9,188,677
-3.2
  
Percent
PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR
          
 
Domestic
 86.0 Percent
   86.4 Percent
-0.4
  
Points
             
 
International
 80.9 Percent
   80.1 Percent
0.8
  
Points
 
Transatlantic
 82.4 Percent
    82.4 Percent
0.0
  
Point
 
Latin America
 79.0 Percent
 80.5 Percent
-1.5
  
Points
 
Pacific
 80.6 Percent
   73.7 Percent
6.9
  
Points
             
 
Mainline
 83.4 Percent
 83.1 Percent
0.3
  
Points
 
Regional
 79.5 Percent
 76.4 Percent
3.1
  
Points
 
Consolidated
 82.9 Percent
 82.3 Percent
0.6
  
Points
ONBOARD PASSENGERS
          
 
Mainline
3,710,930
3,967,015
-6.5
  
Percent
 
Regional
1,517,163
1,443,181
5.1
  
Percent
 
Consolidated
5,228,093
5,410,196
-3.4
  
Percent
CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000)
        
 
Total
89,785
72,611
23.7
  
Percent
             
             


 
 
 


PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC RESULTS
YEAR-TO-DATE
2010
2009
Change
REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000)
        
 
Domestic
12,225,722
12,275,274
-0.4
  
Percent
             
 
International
13,046,140
12,204,420
6.9
  
Percent
 
Transatlantic
5,875,174
5,782,838
1.6
  
Percent
 
Latin America
4,430,228
4,157,194
6.6
  
Percent
 
Pacific
2,740,738
2,264,388
21.0
  
Percent
             
 
Mainline
25,271,862
24,479,694
3.2
  
Percent
 
Regional
3,018,941
2,876,432
5.0
  
Percent
 
Consolidated
28,290,803
27,356,126
3.4
  
Percent
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000)
          
 
Domestic
14,768,441
15,072,932
-2.0
  
Percent
             
 
International
16,474,889
16,451,340
0.1
  
Percent
 
Transatlantic
7,529,764
8,139,193
-7.5
  
Percent
 
Latin America
5,510,365
5,239,458
5.2
  
Percent
 
Pacific
3,434,760
3,072,689
11.8
  
Percent
             
 
Mainline
31,243,330
31,524,272
-0.9
  
Percent
 
Regional
3,962,932
3,987,345
-0.6
  
Percent
 
Consolidated
35,206,262
35,511,617
-0.9
  
Percent
PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR
          
 
Domestic
82.8 Percent
81.4 Percent
1.4
  
Points
             
 
International
79.2 Percent
74.2 Percent
5.0
  
Points
 
Transatlantic
78.0 Percent
71.0 Percent
7.0
  
Points
 
Latin America
80.4 Percent
79.3 Percent
1.1
  
Points
 
Pacific
79.8 Percent
73.7 Percent
6.1
  
Points
             
 
Mainline
80.9 Percent
77.7 Percent
3.2
  
Points
 
Regional
76.2 Percent
72.1 Percent
4.1
  
Points
 
Consolidated
80.4 Percent
77.0 Percent
3.4
  
Points
ONBOARD PASSENGERS
          
 
Mainline
14,271,545
14,528,708
-1.8
  
Percent
 
Regional
5,489,847
5,289,352
3.8
  
Percent
 
Consolidated
19,761,392
19,818,060
-0.3
  
Percent
CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000)
        
 
Total
352,356
273,030
29.1
  
Percent
             


 
 
 


PRELIMINARY OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL RESULTS
APRIL
  
2010
2009
Change
On-Time Performance 1
86.0%
72.0%
         14.0
  Points
Completion Factor 2
98.5%
99.4%
          (0.9)
  Points
March 2010 year-over-year consolidated RASM change
         15.0
  Percent
March 2010 year-over-year mainline RASM change
         13.4
  Percent
April 2010 estimated year-over-year consolidated RASM change
 14.0 - 15.0
  Percent
April 2010 estimated year-over-year mainline RASM change
 12.0 - 13.0
  Percent
April 2010 estimated average price per gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes
2.25
  Dollars
Second Quarter 2010 estimated average price per gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes
2.33
  Dollars
             
             
1 Department of Transportation Arrivals within 14 minutes
    
2 Mainline Segment Completion Percentage