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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 FXWN1GoY4c1SDfuWijUgjNN4UrysHRyJ8avjDdfxwfLcNbZyw3ANWTeC/QK/pLFZ
 qNU6c0/pq8gyZrJlTbzwGA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000897423-03-000136.txt : 20030729
<SEC-HEADER>0000897423-03-000136.hdr.sgml : 20030729
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030729153838
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000897423-03-000136
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030725
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030729

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CONTINENTAL AIRLINES INC /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000319687
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	AIR TRANSPORTATION, SCHEDULED [4512]
		IRS NUMBER:				742099724
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1600 SMITH STREET 3303D
		STREET 2:		DEPT HQSEO
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7133245000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1600 SMITH STREET 3303D
		STREET 2:		DEPT HQSEO
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PEOPLE EXPRESS AIRLINES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19890726

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BONDERMAN DAVID
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000860866

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10323
		FILM NUMBER:		03808643

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O COSTAR GROUP INC
		STREET 2:		7475 WISCONSIN AVENUE #600
		CITY:			BETHESDA
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			20814
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8178714040

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O COSTAR GROUP INC
		STREET 2:		7475 WISCONSIN AVENUE #600
		CITY:			BETHESDA
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			20814
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-25</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000319687</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CONTINENTAL AIRLINES INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CAL</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000860866</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BONDERMAN DAVID</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>301 COMMERCE STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 3300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FORT WORTH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>76102</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class B Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-25</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>X</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>180483</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>43.1027</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>15000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOf
Ownership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Call Option (obligation to sell)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>62.2116</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-25</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>E</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-07-25</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2003-07-25</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class B Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityT
itle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>180483</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Put Option (right to sell)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>43.1027</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-25</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>X</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><v
alue>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-07-25</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2003-07-25</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class B Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>180483</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">In connection with the physical settlement of a put option entered into on June 13, 2001 as part of a zero-cost collar arrangement, the reporting person received a cash amount equal to the adjusted exercise price of $42.6632 per share multiplied by the number of shares subject to the 
collar arrangement.  On the same date the related call option expired unexercised.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The Reporting Person also owns shares of the Issuer's Class B Common Stock indirectly through Bonderman Family Limited Partnership (&quot;Bonderman Family&quot;).  Bonderman Family directly owns 704,096 shares of the Class B Common Stock.  Bonderman is the sole control person of Bonderman Family, in his capacity as President, sole director and sole shareholder of Bondco, Inc., the sole general partner of Bonderman Family.  Pursuant to Rule 16a-1(a)(2)(ii)(B) under the Act, Bonderman is deemed to be the beneficial owner of the securities beneficially owned by Bonderman Family only to the extent of the greater his profits or capital account interest in Bonderman Family, and, pursuant to Rule 16a-1(a)(4) under the Act, this filing shall not be deemed an admission that Bonderman is, for purposes of Section 16 of the Act or otherwise, the beneficial owner of any securities owned by Bonderman Family in ex
cess of such amount.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>James J. O'Brien, as Attorney-in-Fact for David Bonderman</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-29</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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