-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Cndu29tcAcEgzbwRnqMMevjuK/qsk5APaRHUP92LTmoM2EYRxPvROyMwIrq4lzKn
 1YJfiQ/BOGLpFE2rk8HVkg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-10-049807.txt : 20101005
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-10-049807.hdr.sgml : 20101005
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101005171220
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-10-049807
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101001
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101005
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101005

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Caldwell Kirbyjon H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001209316

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10323
		FILM NUMBER:		101109948

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6000 HEATHER BROOK DRIVE
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77085

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CALDWELL KIRBY JOHN H
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20021209

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd287286.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-10-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000319687</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CONTINENTAL AIRLINES INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CAL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001209316</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Caldwell Kirbyjon H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1600 SMITH STREET - HQSEO</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77002</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>2010-10-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3311</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>49.80</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-10-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-05-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-05-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>34.10</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-10-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-06-12</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-06-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>12.46</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-10-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6788</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-06-12</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-06-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6788</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.22</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-10-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-06-10</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-06-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Disposed of pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 2, 2010, by and among Continental Airlines, Inc. (&quot;Continental&quot;), UAL Corporation and JT Merger Sub Inc., in exchange for 1.05 shares of common stock of United Continental Holdings, Inc. (&quot;UAL&quot;) per share of Continental B Common Stock on October 1, 2010.  Any fractional share will be paid in cash.  Shares reported in Table I Column 4 include 2,311 restricted shares that would have vested on June 9, 2011.  These restricted shares were converted into 2,426 restricted shares of UAL common stock, with the same terms and conditions as the original Continental restricted shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Options were converted pursuant to the Merger Agreement into options to purchase 5,250 shares of UAL common stock at $47.43 per share, with the same terms and conditions as the original Continental options.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Options were converted pursuant to the Merger Agreement into options to purchase 5,250 shares of UAL common stock at $32.48 per share, with the same terms and conditions as the original Continental options.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Options were converted pursuant to the Merger Agreement into options to purchase 7,127 shares of UAL common stock at $11.87 per share, with the same terms and conditions as the original Continental options.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Options were converted pursuant to the Merger Agreement into options to purchase 7,875 shares of UAL common stock at $8.79 per share, with the same terms and conditions as the original Continental options.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Sarah Hagy on behalf of Kirbyjon H. Caldwell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-10-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----