HOUSTON, May 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continental Airlines today reported an April consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 82.3 percent, 2.9 points above the April 2008 consolidated load factor. The carrier reported a mainline load factor of 83.1 percent, 3.5 points above the April 2008 mainline load factor, and a domestic mainline April load factor of 86.4 percent, 2.6 points above the April 2008 domestic mainline load factor. In addition, the airline had an international mainline load factor of 80.1 percent, 4.6 points above April 2008. All except the consolidated load factor were records for April.
During the month, Continental recorded a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on-time arrival rate of 72.0 percent and a mainline segment completion factor of 99.4 percent.
In April 2009, Continental flew 7.6 billion consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and 9.2 billion consolidated available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a consolidated traffic decrease of 3.4 percent and a capacity decrease of 6.8 percent as compared to April 2008. In April 2009, Continental flew 6.8 billion mainline RPMs and 8.2 billion mainline ASMs, resulting in a mainline traffic decrease of 2.3 percent and a mainline capacity decrease of 6.3 percent as compared to April 2008. Domestic mainline traffic was 3.4 billion RPMs in April 2009, down 7.5 percent from April 2008, and domestic mainline capacity was 3.9 billion ASMs, down 10.2 percent from April 2008.
For April 2009, consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (RASM) is estimated to have decreased between 12.5 and 13.5 percent compared to April 2008, while mainline passenger RASM is estimated to have decreased between 10.5 and 11.5 percent compared to April 2008.
For March 2009, consolidated passenger RASM decreased 19.6 percent compared to March 2008, while mainline passenger RASM decreased 18.8 percent compared to March 2008.
Continental's regional operations had an April load factor of 76.4 percent, 1.4 points below the April 2008 regional load factor. Regional RPMs were 776.6 million and regional ASMs were 1,016.4 million in April 2009, resulting in a traffic decrease of 12.3 percent and a capacity decrease of 10.7 percent versus April 2008.
Continental Airlines is the world's fifth largest airline. Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 2,750 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 133 domestic and 132 international destinations. More than 750 additional points are served via current alliance partners. With more than 43,000 employees, Continental has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and together with its regional partners, carries approximately 67 million passengers per year.
Celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, Continental consistently earns awards and critical acclaim for both its operation and its corporate culture. For the sixth consecutive year, FORTUNE magazine named Continental the No. 1 World's Most Admired Airline on its 2009 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 2008 Form 10-K and its other securities filings, including any amendments thereto, which identify important matters such as the significant volatility in the cost of aircraft fuel, its transition to a new global alliance, the consequences of its high leverage and other significant capital commitments, its high labor and pension costs, delays in scheduled aircraft deliveries, 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 recession in the U.S. and global economies, the airline pricing environment, terrorist attacks, regulatory matters, excessive taxation, industry consolidation, the availability and cost of insurance, public health threats 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 APRIL 2009 2008 Change REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000) Domestic 3,365,954 3,638,483 -7.5 Percent International 3,424,272 3,311,310 3.4 Percent Transatlantic 1,742,205 1,769,106 -1.5 Percent Latin America 1,051,546 1,016,775 3.4 Percent Pacific 630,521 525,429 20.0 Percent Mainline 6,790,226 6,949,793 -2.3 Percent Regional 776,635 885,629 -12.3 Percent Consolidated 7,566,861 7,835,422 -3.4 Percent AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000) Domestic 3,896,376 4,340,552 -10.2 Percent International 4,275,932 4,385,149 -2.5 Percent Transatlantic 2,114,448 2,348,980 -10.0 Percent Latin America 1,305,467 1,288,383 1.3 Percent Pacific 856,017 747,786 14.5 Percent Mainline 8,172,308 8,725,701 -6.3 Percent Regional 1,016,369 1,137,914 -10.7 Percent Consolidated 9,188,677 9,863,615 -6.8 Percent PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR Domestic 86.4 Percent 83.8 Percent 2.6 Points International 80.1 Percent 75.5 Percent 4.6 Points Transatlantic 82.4 Percent 75.3 Percent 7.1 Points Latin America 80.5 Percent 78.9 Percent 1.6 Points Pacific 73.7 Percent 70.3 Percent 3.4 Points Mainline 83.1 Percent 79.6 Percent 3.5 Points Regional 76.4 Percent 77.8 Percent -1.4 Points Consolidated 82.3 Percent 79.4 Percent 2.9 Points ONBOARD PASSENGERS Mainline 3,967,048 4,212,499 -5.8 Percent Regional 1,443,181 1,609,997 -10.4 Percent Consolidated 5,410,229 5,822,496 -7.1 Percent CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000) Total 72,607 90,427 -19.7 Percent PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC RESULTS YEAR-TO-DATE 2009 2008 Change REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000) Domestic 12,275,274 14,067,250 -12.7 Percent International 12,204,531 12,805,637 -4.7 Percent Transatlantic 5,782,838 6,246,117 -7.4 Percent Latin America 4,157,305 4,199,434 -1.0 Percent Pacific 2,264,388 2,360,086 -4.1 Percent Mainline 24,479,805 26,872,887 -8.9 Percent Regional 2,876,432 3,242,407 -11.3 Percent Consolidated 27,356,237 30,115,294 -9.2 Percent AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000) Domestic 15,072,932 17,066,631 -11.7 Percent International 16,451,340 16,936,949 -2.9 Percent Transatlantic 8,139,193 8,557,602 -4.9 Percent Latin America 5,239,458 5,163,588 1.5 Percent Pacific 3,072,689 3,215,759 -4.4 Percent Mainline 31,524,272 34,003,580 -7.3 Percent Regional 3,987,345 4,235,522 -5.9 Percent Consolidated 35,511,617 38,239,102 -7.1 Percent PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR Domestic 81.4 Percent 82.4 Percent -1.0 Point International 74.2 Percent 75.6 Percent -1.4 Points Transatlantic 71.0 Percent 73.0 Percent -2.0 Points Latin America 79.3 Percent 81.3 Percent -2.0 Points Pacific 73.7 Percent 73.4 Percent 0.3 Points Mainline 77.7 Percent 79.0 Percent -1.3 Points Regional 72.1 Percent 76.6 Percent -4.5 Points Consolidated 77.0 Percent 78.8 Percent -1.8 Points ONBOARD PASSENGERS Mainline 14,528,741 16,408,875 -11.5 Percent Regional 5,289,352 5,852,639 -9.6 Percent Consolidated 19,818,093 22,261,514 -11.0 Percent CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000) Total 273,020 351,700 -22.4 Percent PRELIMINARY OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL RESULTS APRIL 2009 2008 Change On-Time Performance (1) 72.0% 76.5% (4.5) Points Completion Factor (2) 99.4% 99.7% (0.3) Points March 2009 year-over-year consolidated RASM change (19.6) Percent March 2009 year-over-year mainline RASM change (18.8) Percent April 2009 estimated year-over-year consolidated RASM change (12.5) - (13.5) Percent April 2009 estimated year-over-year mainline RASM change (10.5) - (11.5) Percent April 2009 estimated average price per gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes 2.06 Dollars Second Quarter 2009 estimated average price per gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes 2.11 Dollars (1) Department of Transportation Arrivals within 14 minutes (2) Mainline Segment Completion Percentage
Continental Airlines
CONTACT: Corporate Communications of Continental Airlines,
+1-713-324-5080, corpcomm@coair.com
Web Site: http://www.continental.com/
http://www.continental.com/company/news
