HOUSTON, July 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continental Airlines today reported a June consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 84.5 percent, 2.3 points above last year's June consolidated load factor, and a mainline load factor of 84.8 percent, 1.9 points above the June 2005 mainline load factor. The carrier reported a domestic mainline load factor of 86.7 percent, 2.0 points above June 2005, and an international mainline load factor of 82.7 percent, 1.9 points above June 2005. All four were records for June. The carrier also reported a record daily load factor of 94.0 percent on June 30, 2006, for Continental operations (which excludes regional and Continental Micronesia).
During the month, Continental recorded a U.S. Department of Transportation on-time arrival rate of 67.8 percent. Continental's on-time performance was adversely affected by inclement weather. The carrier enacted severe weather plans for 25 occurrences in June, primarily in Newark and Houston. Despite weather challenges, the carrier reported a mainline completion factor of 99.7 percent.
In June 2006, Continental flew 8.2 billion consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and 9.7 billion consolidated available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a traffic increase of 13.7 percent and a capacity increase of 10.6 percent as compared to June 2005. In June 2006, Continental flew 7.3 billion mainline RPMs and 8.6 billion mainline ASMs, resulting in a mainline traffic increase of 13.2 percent and a mainline capacity increase of 10.7 percent as compared to June 2005. Domestic mainline traffic was 3.9 billion RPMs in June 2006, up 9.0 percent from June 2005, and domestic mainline capacity was 4.5 billion ASMs, up 6.5 percent from June 2005.
For June 2006, consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (RASM) is estimated to have increased between 10.5 and 11.5 percent compared to June 2005, while mainline passenger RASM is estimated to have increased between 9.0 and 10.0 percent compared to June 2005. For May 2006, consolidated passenger RASM increased 9.3 percent compared to May 2005, while mainline passenger RASM increased 7.6 percent from May 2005.
Continental ended the second quarter with unrestricted cash and short-term investments of approximately $2.47 billion. June 2006 sales at continental.com increased 45.0 percent over June 2005.
Continental's regional operations had a record June load factor of 82.2 percent, 5.5 points above last year's June load factor. Regional RPMs were 951.1 million and regional ASMs were 1,156.4 million in June 2006, resulting in a traffic increase of 18.0 percent and a capacity increase of 10.0 percent versus June 2005.
Continental Airlines, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 3,200 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 152 domestic and 138 international destinations. More than 400 additional points are served via SkyTeam alliance airlines. With more than 42,000 employees, Continental has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and together with Continental Express, carries approximately 61 million passengers per year. Continental consistently earns awards and critical acclaim for both its operation and its corporate culture.
In 2006, Continental Airlines won its sixth J.D. Power and Associates award since 1996. The carrier ranked the highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Network Carriers in North America in the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Airline Satisfaction Index Survey(SM). For the third consecutive year, FORTUNE magazine named Continental the No. 1 Most Admired Global Airline on its 2006 list of Most Admired Global Companies. Continental was also named the No. 1 airline on the publication's 2006 America's Most Admired airline industry list. Additionally, Continental again won major awards at the OAG Airline of the Year Awards including "Best Airline Based in North America" for the third year in a row, and "Best Executive/Business Class" for the fourth consecutive year. For more company information, visit 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 2005 10-K and its other securities filings, including any amendments thereto, which identify important matters such as the consequences of our significant financial losses and high leverage, terrorist attacks, domestic and international economic conditions, the significant cost of aircraft fuel, labor costs, competition, and industry conditions, including the demand for air travel, the airline pricing environment and industry capacity decisions, regulatory matters 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.
PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC RESULTS
JUNE 2006 2005 Change
REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000)
Domestic 3,885,977 3,565,956 9.0 Percent
International 3,386,020 2,858,443 18.5 Percent
Transatlantic 1,771,360 1,481,600 19.6 Percent
Latin America 961,360 768,681 25.1 Percent
Pacific 653,300 608,162 7.4 Percent
Mainline 7,271,997 6,424,399 13.2 Percent
Regional 951,124 806,259 18.0 Percent
Consolidated 8,223,121 7,230,658 13.7 Percent
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000)
Domestic 4,484,491 4,208,875 6.5 Percent
International 4,092,438 3,536,226 15.7 Percent
Transatlantic 2,095,947 1,770,395 18.4 Percent
Latin America 1,195,387 1,015,910 17.7 Percent
Pacific 801,104 749,921 6.8 Percent
Mainline 8,576,929 7,745,101 10.7 Percent
Regional 1,156,418 1,051,453 10.0 Percent
Consolidated 9,733,347 8,796,554 10.6 Percent
PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR
Domestic 86.7 Percent 84.7 Percent 2.0 Points
International 82.7 Percent 80.8 Percent 1.9 Points
Transatlantic 84.5 Percent 83.7 Percent 0.8 Points
Latin America 80.4 Percent 75.7 Percent 4.7 Points
Pacific 81.6 Percent 81.1 Percent 0.5 Points
Mainline 84.8 Percent 82.9 Percent 1.9 Points
Regional 82.2 Percent 76.7 Percent 5.5 Points
Consolidated 84.5 Percent 82.2 Percent 2.3 Points
ONBOARD PASSENGERS
Mainline 4,389,157 3,984,060 10.2 Percent
Regional 1,681,582 1,448,409 16.1 Percent
Consolidated 6,070,739 5,432,469 11.7 Percent
CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000)
Total 86,541 79,498 8.9 Percent
PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC RESULTS
YEAR-TO-DATE 2006 2005 Change
REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000)
Domestic 21,112,037 19,337,556 9.2 Percent
International 17,536,307 14,867,590 17.9 Percent
Transatlantic 8,350,143 7,009,139 19.1 Percent
Latin America 5,500,002 4,666,360 17.9 Percent
Pacific 3,686,162 3,192,091 15.5 Percent
Mainline 38,648,344 34,205,146 13.0 Percent
Regional 5,052,161 4,198,312 20.3 Percent
Consolidated 43,700,505 38,403,458 13.8 Percent
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000)
Domestic 25,345,494 24,065,939 5.3 Percent
International 22,572,021 19,235,379 17.3 Percent
Transatlantic 10,726,932 8,847,184 21.2 Percent
Latin America 7,005,667 6,173,000 13.5 Percent
Pacific 4,839,422 4,215,195 14.8 Percent
Mainline 47,917,515 43,301,318 10.7 Percent
Regional 6,456,244 5,766,178 12.0 Percent
Consolidated 54,373,759 49,067,496 10.8 Percent
PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR
Domestic 83.3 Percent 80.4 Percent 2.9 Points
International 77.7 Percent 77.3 Percent 0.4 Points
Transatlantic 77.8 Percent 79.2 Percent -1.4 Points
Latin America 78.5 Percent 75.6 Percent 2.9 Points
Pacific 76.2 Percent 75.7 Percent 0.5 Points
Mainline 80.7 Percent 79.0 Percent 1.7 Points
Regional 78.3 Percent 72.8 Percent 5.5 Points
Consolidated 80.4 Percent 78.3 Percent 2.1 Points
ONBOARD PASSENGERS
Mainline 24,230,140 22,063,875 9.8 Percent
Regional 8,956,981 7,598,354 17.9 Percent
Consolidated 33,187,121 29,662,229 11.9 Percent
CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000)
Total 526,356 498,279 5.6 Percent
PRELIMINARY OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL RESULTS
JUNE 2006 2005 Change
On-Time Performance (A) 67.8% 79.0% (11.2) Points
Completion Factor (B) 99.7% 99.8% (0.1) Points
May 2006 year-over-year
consolidated RASM change 9.3 Percent
May 2006 year-over-year mainline
RASM change 7.6 Percent
June 2006 estimated year-over-year
consolidated RASM change 10.5-11.5 Percent
June 2006 estimated year-over-year
mainline RASM change 9.0-10.0 Percent
June 2006 estimated average price
per gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes 2.19 Dollars
Second Quarter 2006 estimated average
price per gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes 2.11 Dollars
(A) Department of Transportation Arrivals within 14 minutes
(B) Mainline Mileage Completion Percentage
