HOUSTON, Oct. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continental Airlines today reported a September consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 81.5 percent, 5.0 points above the September 2008 consolidated load factor, and a mainline load factor of 82.2 percent, 4.8 points above the September 2008 mainline load factor. The carrier reported a domestic mainline September load factor of 84.0 percent, 5.5 points above the September 2008 domestic mainline load factor, and an international mainline load factor of 80.4 percent, 4.1 points above September 2008. All four September load factors were records for the month.
During the month, Continental recorded a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on-time arrival rate of 88.4 percent and a mainline segment completion factor of 99.8 percent. Continental also recorded a record number of 100 percent completion factor days for the month of September.
In September 2009, Continental flew 6.9 billion consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and 8.5 billion consolidated available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a consolidated traffic increase of 7.0 percent and a capacity increase of 0.5 percent as compared to September 2008. In September 2009, Continental flew 6.2 billion mainline RPMs and 7.6 billion mainline ASMs, resulting in a mainline traffic increase of 6.7 percent and a mainline capacity increase of 0.5 percent as compared to September 2008. Domestic mainline traffic was 3.2 billion RPMs in September 2009, up 9.8 percent from September 2008, and domestic mainline capacity was 3.8 billion ASMs, up 2.7 percent from September 2008. September 2008 operations were impacted by the effects of Hurricane Ike, which caused a multi-day closure of the Houston hub and reduced September capacity.
For September 2009, consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (RASM) is estimated to have decreased between 18.5 and 19.5 percent compared to September 2008, while mainline RASM is estimated to have decreased between 20.0 and 21.0 percent. September 2008 results included a 3 point increase in both consolidated and mainline RASM related to a reduction in the company's frequent flyer liability. For August 2009, consolidated passenger RASM decreased 17.2 percent compared to August 2008, while mainline passenger RASM decreased 17.9 percent compared to August 2008.
Continental ended the third quarter 2009 with an unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments balance of approximately $2.55 billion.
Continental's regional operations had a September load factor of 75.8 percent, 6.3 points above the September 2008 regional load factor. Regional RPMs were 725.0 million and regional ASMs were 956.9 million in September 2009, resulting in a traffic increase of 9.0 percent and a capacity decrease of 0.1 percent versus September 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. Continental has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and together with its regional partners, carries approximately 63 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 SEPTEMBER 2009 2008 Change REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000) Domestic 3,173,371 2,889,642 9.8 Percent International 3,048,654 2,939,376 3.7 Percent Transatlantic 1,727,480 1,779,464 -2.9 Percent Latin America 635,693 591,423 7.5 Percent Pacific 685,481 568,489 20.6 Percent Mainline 6,222,025 5,829,018 6.7 Percent Regional 724,977 665,285 9.0 Percent Consolidated 6,947,002 6,494,303 7.0 Percent AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000) Domestic 3,778,821 3,678,834 2.7 Percent International 3,791,178 3,849,950 -1.5 Percent Transatlantic 2,079,010 2,338,025 -11.1 Percent Latin America 819,389 774,378 5.8 Percent Pacific 892,779 737,547 21.0 Percent Mainline 7,569,999 7,528,784 0.5 Percent Regional 956,913 957,659 -0.1 Percent Consolidated 8,526,912 8,486,443 0.5 Percent PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR Domestic 84.0 Percent 78.5 Percent 5.5 Points International 80.4 Percent 76.3 Percent 4.1 Points Transatlantic 83.1 Percent 76.1 Percent 7.0 Points Latin America 77.6 Percent 76.4 Percent 1.2 Points Pacific 76.8 Percent 77.1 Percent -0.3 Points Mainline 82.2 Percent 77.4 Percent 4.8 Points Regional 75.8 Percent 69.5 Percent 6.3 Points Consolidated 81.5 Percent 76.5 Percent 5.0 Points ONBOARD PASSENGERS Mainline 3,330,332 3,162,971 5.3 Percent Regional 1,350,709 1,239,585 9.0 Percent Consolidated 4,681,041 4,402,556 6.3 Percent CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000) Total 84,370 78,161 7.9 Percent PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC RESULTS YEAR-TO-DATE 2009 2008 Change REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000) Domestic 30,522,134 33,059,679 -7.7 Percent International 30,066,409 31,198,331 -3.6 Percent Transatlantic 15,426,106 16,593,207 -7.0 Percent Latin America 8,999,186 9,173,141 -1.9 Percent Pacific 5,641,117 5,431,983 3.9 Percent Mainline 60,588,543 64,258,010 -5.7 Percent Regional 6,984,255 7,603,772 -8.1 Percent Consolidated 67,572,798 71,861,782 -6.0 Percent AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000) Domestic 35,966,166 39,572,803 -9.1 Percent International 38,151,937 39,551,824 -3.5 Percent Transatlantic 19,582,526 21,367,474 -8.4 Percent Latin America 11,061,249 11,109,442 -0.4 Percent Pacific 7,508,162 7,074,908 6.1 Percent Mainline 74,118,103 79,124,627 -6.3 Percent Regional 9,144,698 9,937,632 -8.0 Percent Consolidated 83,262,801 89,062,259 -6.5 Percent PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR Domestic 84.9 Percent 83.5 Percent 1.4 Points International 78.8 Percent 78.9 Percent -0.1 Points Transatlantic 78.8 Percent 77.7 Percent 1.1 Points Latin America 81.4 Percent 82.6 Percent -1.2 Points Pacific 75.1 Percent 76.8 Percent -1.7 Points Mainline 81.7 Percent 81.2 Percent 0.5 Points Regional 76.4 Percent 76.5 Percent -0.1 Points Consolidated 81.2 Percent 80.7 Percent 0.5 Points ONBOARD PASSENGERS Mainline 34,618,306 37,714,489 -8.2 Percent Regional 12,932,311 13,794,791 -6.3 Percent Consolidated 47,550,617 51,509,280 -7.7 Percent CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000) Total 664,768 769,567 -13.6 Percent PRELIMINARY OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL RESULTS SEPTEMBER 2009 2008 Change On-Time Performance (1) 88.4% 82.1% 6.3 Points Completion Factor (2) 99.8% 94.4% 5.4 Points August 2009 year-over-year consolidated RASM change (17.2) Percent August 2009 year-over-year mainline RASM change (17.9) Percent September 2009 estimated year-over-year consolidated RASM change (18.5) - (19.5) Percent September 2009 estimated year-over-year mainline RASM change (20.0) - (21.0) Percent September 2009 estimated average price per gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes 1.98 Dollars Third Quarter 2009 estimated average price per gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes 1.99 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/
