HOUSTON, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continental Airlines today reported an August consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 82.4 percent, 0.6 points above last year's August consolidated load factor. The carrier reported a mainline load factor of 83.0 percent, 0.5 points above the August 2005 mainline load factor, and a domestic mainline load factor of 85.5 percent, 1.2 points above August 2005. All three were records for August. In addition, the airline had an international mainline load factor of 80.3 percent, 0.2 points below August 2005.
During the month, Continental recorded a U.S. Department of Transportation on-time arrival rate of 76.3 percent and a mainline completion factor of 99.8 percent.
In August 2006, Continental flew 8.4 billion consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and 10.2 billion consolidated available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a traffic increase of 9.3 percent and a capacity increase of 8.5 percent as compared to August 2005. In August 2006, Continental flew 7.4 billion mainline RPMs and 9.0 billion mainline ASMs, resulting in a mainline traffic increase of 8.9 percent and an 8.2 percent increase in mainline capacity as compared to August 2005. Domestic mainline traffic was 4.0 billion RPMs in August 2006, up 7.1 percent from August 2005, and domestic mainline capacity was 4.7 billion ASMs, up 5.5 percent from August 2005.
For August 2006, consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (RASM) is estimated to have increased between 6.5 and 7.5 percent compared to August 2005, while mainline passenger RASM is estimated to have increased between 5.5 and 6.5 percent compared to August 2005. Continental estimates that August 2006 year-over-year consolidated and mainline RASM were negatively impacted by approximately 1.5 points due to the elevated security concerns during the month. For July 2006, consolidated passenger RASM increased 9.6 percent compared to July 2005, while mainline passenger RASM increased 8.9 percent from July 2005.
Continental's regional operations had a record August load factor of 78.0 percent, 1.6 points above last year's August load factor. Regional RPMs were 959.4 million and regional ASMs were 1,230.0 million in August 2006, resulting in a traffic increase of 12.8 percent and a capacity increase of 10.5 percent versus August 2005.
Continental Airlines is the world's fifth largest airline. Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 3,200 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 154 domestic and 138 international destinations. More than 400 additional points are served via SkyTeam alliance airlines. With more than 43,000 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 received the highest rank in customer satisfaction among 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, disruptions in its computer systems, 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
AUGUST 2006 2005 Change
REVENUE PASSENGER MILES
(000)
Domestic 3,981,998 3,717,025 7.1 Percent
International 3,456,971 3,113,916 11.0 Percent
Transatlantic 1,765,194 1,581,001 11.7 Percent
Latin America 1,020,205 888,814 14.8 Percent
Pacific 671,573 644,100 4.3 Percent
Mainline 7,438,969 6,830,941 8.9 Percent
Regional 959,435 850,312 12.8 Percent
Consolidated 8,398,405 7,681,253 9.3 Percent
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES
(000)
Domestic 4,654,805 4,410,230 5.5 Percent
International 4,305,036 3,868,758 11.3 Percent
Transatlantic 2,200,539 1,896,411 16.0 Percent
Latin America 1,259,958 1,136,026 10.9 Percent
Pacific 844,538 836,322 1.0 Percent
Mainline 8,959,841 8,278,988 8.2 Percent
Regional 1,230,027 1,112,894 10.5 Percent
Consolidated 10,189,867 9,391,882 8.5 Percent
PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR
Domestic 85.5 Percent 84.3 Percent 1.2 Points
International 80.3 Percent 80.5 Percent -0.2 Points
Transatlantic 80.2 Percent 83.4 Percent -3.2 Points
Latin America 81.0 Percent 78.2 Percent 2.8 Points
Pacific 79.5 Percent 77.0 Percent 2.5 Points
Mainline 83.0 Percent 82.5 Percent 0.5 Points
Regional 78.0 Percent 76.4 Percent 1.6 Points
Consolidated 82.4 Percent 81.8 Percent 0.6 Points
ONBOARD PASSENGERS
Mainline 4,356,907 4,096,856 6.3 Percent
Regional 1,679,477 1,505,116 11.6 Percent
Consolidated 6,036,384 5,601,972 7.8 Percent
CARGO REVENUE TON MILES
(000)
Total 87,734 80,805 8.6 Percent
PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC RESULTS
YEAR-TO-DATE 2006 2005 Change
REVENUE PASSENGER MILES
(000)
Domestic 29,155,593 26,853,384 8.6 Percent
International 24,690,106 21,209,089 16.4 Percent
Transatlantic 11,992,425 10,208,308 17.5 Percent
Latin America 7,661,192 6,513,090 17.6 Percent
Pacific 5,036,489 4,487,691 12.2 Percent
Mainline 53,845,699 48,062,473 12.0 Percent
Regional 6,991,667 5,910,425 18.3 Percent
Consolidated 60,837,366 53,972,898 12.7 Percent
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES
(000)
Domestic 34,652,938 32,869,100 5.4 Percent
International 31,244,749 27,014,644 15.7 Percent
Transatlantic 15,132,590 12,644,351 19.7 Percent
Latin America 9,582,797 8,473,174 13.1 Percent
Pacific 6,529,362 5,897,119 10.7 Percent
Mainline 65,897,687 59,883,744 10.0 Percent
Regional 8,903,610 7,973,618 11.7 Percent
Consolidated 74,801,297 67,857,362 10.2 Percent
PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR
Domestic 84.1 Percent 81.7 Percent 2.4 Points
International 79.0 Percent 78.5 Percent 0.5 Points
Transatlantic 79.2 Percent 80.7 Percent -1.5 Points
Latin America 79.9 Percent 76.9 Percent 3.0 Points
Pacific 77.1 Percent 76.1 Percent 1.0 Points
Mainline 81.7 Percent 80.3 Percent 1.4 Points
Regional 78.5 Percent 74.1 Percent 4.4 Points
Consolidated 81.3 Percent 79.5 Percent 1.8 Points
ONBOARD PASSENGERS
Mainline 33,177,295 30,456,648 8.9 Percent
Regional 12,341,311 10,622,098 16.2 Percent
Consolidated 45,518,606 41,078,746 10.8 Percent
CARGO REVENUE TON MILES
(000)
Total 703,720 662,005 6.3 Percent
PRELIMINARY OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL RESULTS
AUGUST 2006 2005 Change
On-Time Performance (A) 76.3% 75.7% 0.6 Points
Completion Factor (B) 99.8% 99.6% 0.2 Points
July 2006 year-over-year
consolidated RASM change 9.6 Percent
July 2006 year-over-year mainline
RASM change 8.9 Percent
Aug 2006 estimated year-over-year
consolidated RASM change 6.5-7.5 Percent
Aug 2006 estimated year-over-year
mainline RASM change 5.5-6.5 Percent
Aug 2006 estimated average price
per gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes 2.25 Dollars
Third Quarter 2006 estimated average
price per gallon of fuel, including
fuel taxes 2.21 Dollars
(A) Department of Transportation Arrivals within 14 minutes
(B) Mainline Mileage Completion Percentage
