HOUSTON, Nov. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continental Airlines today reported an October consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 79.0 percent, 0.5 points below the October 2007 consolidated load factor, and a mainline load factor of 79.5 percent, 0.3 points below the October 2007 mainline load factor. In addition, the carrier reported a domestic mainline October load factor of 83.0 percent, 0.5 points above the October 2007 domestic mainline load factor, and an international mainline load factor of 75.9 percent, 0.8 points below October 2007.
During the month, Continental recorded a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on-time arrival rate of 81.4 percent and a mainline segment completion factor of 99.7 percent.
In October 2008, Continental flew 7.1 billion consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and 9.0 billion consolidated available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a consolidated traffic decrease of 7.3 percent and a capacity decrease of 6.7 percent as compared to October 2007. In October 2008, Continental flew 6.4 billion mainline RPMs and 8.0 billion mainline ASMs, resulting in a mainline traffic decrease of 7.6 percent and a mainline capacity decrease of 7.3 percent as compared to October 2007. Domestic mainline traffic was 3.4 billion RPMs in October 2008, down 10.2 percent from October 2007, and domestic mainline capacity was 4.1 billion ASMs, down 10.8 percent from October 2007.
For October 2008, consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (RASM) is estimated to have increased between 9.0 and 10.0 percent compared to October 2007, while mainline passenger RASM is estimated to have increased between 10.0 and 11.0 percent compared to October 2007. Mainline domestic RASM for October 2008 is estimated to have increased between 10.0 and 11.0 percent year over year. Mainline domestic RASM for November 2008 is expected to be up 4.0 to 6.0 percent year over year, as close in yields are expected to come in lower than earlier anticipated as a result of the weakened economy.
For September 2008, consolidated passenger RASM increased 12.4 percent compared to September 2007, while mainline passenger RASM increased 14.1 percent compared to September 2007.
Continental's regional operations had an October load factor of 74.9 percent, 2.0 points below the October 2007 regional load factor. Regional RPMs were 785.2 million and regional ASMs were 1,048.3 million in October 2008, resulting in a traffic decrease of 4.4 percent and a capacity decrease of 1.8 percent versus October 2007.
Continental Airlines is the world's fifth largest airline. Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 2,500 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 134 domestic and 131 international destinations. More than 675 additional points are served via alliance partners. With more than 43,000 employees, Continental has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and together with Continental Express, carries approximately 69 million passengers per year.
Continental consistently earns awards and critical acclaim for both its operation and its corporate culture. For the fifth consecutive year, FORTUNE magazine named Continental the No. 1 World's Most Admired Airline on its 2008 list of World's Most Admired Companies. 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 2007 10-K and its other securities filings, including any amendments thereto, which identify important matters such as the consequences of the company's high leverage, the significant volatility in the cost of aircraft fuel, the company's transition to a new global alliance, delays in scheduled aircraft deliveries, its high labor and pension costs, 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 the airline pricing environment, industry capacity decisions, industry consolidation, terrorist attacks, regulatory matters, excessive taxation, the availability and cost of insurance, public health threats, an economic downturn in the U.S. and global economies 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.
PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC RESULTS OCTOBER 2008 2007 Change REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000) Domestic 3,365,484 3,748,932 -10.2 Percent International 2,984,903 3,124,304 -4.5 Percent Transatlantic 1,755,376 1,791,893 -2.0 Percent Latin America 677,785 704,683 -3.8 Percent Pacific 551,742 627,728 -12.1 Percent Mainline 6,350,387 6,873,236 -7.6 Percent Regional 785,161 821,467 -4.4 Percent Consolidated 7,135,548 7,694,703 -7.3 Percent AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000) Domestic 4,054,927 4,545,441 -10.8 Percent International 3,934,229 4,071,163 -3.4 Percent Transatlantic 2,321,162 2,321,631 0.0 Percent Latin America 864,651 919,601 -6.0 Percent Pacific 748,416 829,931 -9.8 Percent Mainline 7,989,156 8,616,604 -7.3 Percent Regional 1,048,292 1,067,794 -1.8 Percent Consolidated 9,037,448 9,684,398 -6.7 Percent PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR Domestic 83.0 Percent 82.5 Percent 0.5 Points International 75.9 Percent 76.7 Percent -0.8 Points Transatlantic 75.6 Percent 77.2 Percent -1.6 Points Latin America 78.4 Percent 76.6 Percent 1.8 Points Pacific 73.7 Percent 75.6 Percent -1.9 Points Mainline 79.5 Percent 79.8 Percent -0.3 Points Regional 74.9 Percent 76.9 Percent -2.0 Points Consolidated 79.0 Percent 79.5 Percent -0.5 Points ONBOARD PASSENGERS Mainline 3,693,011 4,115,874 -10.3 Percent Regional 1,477,464 1,535,726 -3.8 Percent Consolidated 5,170,475 5,651,600 -8.5 Percent CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000) Total 85,635 94,618 -9.5 Percent PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC RESULTS YEAR-TO-DATE 2008 2007 Change REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000) Domestic 36,425,162 38,041,502 -4.2 Percent International 34,183,234 32,870,804 4.0 Percent Transatlantic 18,348,583 17,074,431 7.5 Percent Latin America 9,850,926 9,377,360 5.1 Percent Pacific 5,983,725 6,419,013 -6.8 Percent Mainline 70,608,396 70,912,306 -0.4 Percent Regional 8,388,933 8,278,290 1.3 Percent Consolidated 78,997,329 79,190,596 -0.2 Percent AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000) Domestic 43,627,730 45,192,026 -3.5 Percent International 43,486,054 41,116,790 5.8 Percent Transatlantic 23,688,636 21,353,753 10.9 Percent Latin America 11,974,094 11,574,201 3.5 Percent Pacific 7,823,324 8,188,836 -4.5 Percent Mainline 87,113,784 86,308,816 0.9 Percent Regional 10,985,925 10,563,153 4.0 Percent Consolidated 98,099,709 96,871,969 1.3 Percent PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR Domestic 83.5 Percent 84.2 Percent -0.7 Points International 78.6 Percent 79.9 Percent -1.3 Points Transatlantic 77.5 Percent 80.0 Percent -2.5 Points Latin America 82.3 Percent 81.0 Percent 1.3 Point Pacific 76.5 Percent 78.4 Percent -1.9 Points Mainline 81.1 Percent 82.2 Percent -1.1 Points Regional 76.4 Percent 78.4 Percent -2.0 Points Consolidated 80.5 Percent 81.7 Percent -1.2 Points ONBOARD PASSENGERS Mainline 41,407,500 42,765,225 -3.2 Percent Regional 15,272,255 15,085,073 1.2 Percent Consolidated 56,679,755 57,850,298 -2.0 Percent CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000) Total 855,643 852,305 0.4 Percent PRELIMINARY OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL RESULTS OCTOBER 2008 2007 Change On-Time Performance (1) 81.4% 80.4% 1.0 Point Completion Factor (2) 99.7% 99.6% 0.1 Point September 2008 year-over-year consolidated RASM change 12.4 Percent September 2008 year-over-year mainline RASM change 14.1 Percent October 2008 estimated year-over-year consolidated RASM change 9.0 - 10.0 Percent October 2008 estimated year-over-year mainline RASM change 10.0 - 11.0 Percent October 2008 estimated average price per gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes 3.62 Dollars Fourth Quarter 2008 estimated average price per gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes 3.03 Dollars (1) Department of Transportation Arrivals within 14 minutes (2) Mainline Segment Completion Percentage
