Continental Airlines Reports January 2007 Operational Performance

HOUSTON, Feb. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) today reported a January consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 76.3 percent, 0.4 points above the January 2006 consolidated load factor, and a mainline load factor of 76.8 percent, 0.4 points above the January 2006 mainline load factor. Both load factors were records for the month. In addition, the carrier reported a domestic mainline load factor of 78.1 percent, 0.2 points below January 2006, and an international mainline load factor of 75.3 percent, 1.1 points above January 2006.

During the month, Continental recorded a U.S. Department of Transportation on-time arrival rate of 74.3 percent and a January mainline completion factor of 99.6 percent.

In January 2007, Continental flew 7.0 billion consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and 9.2 billion consolidated available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a traffic increase of 5.9 percent and a capacity increase of 5.5 percent as compared to January 2006. In January 2007, Continental flew 6.3 billion mainline RPMs and 8.2 billion mainline ASMs, resulting in a mainline traffic increase of 6.2 percent and a 5.6 percent increase in mainline capacity as compared to January 2006. Domestic mainline traffic was 3.4 billion RPMs in January 2007, up 4.8 percent from January 2006, and domestic mainline capacity was 4.3 billion ASMs, up 5.1 percent from January 2006.

For January 2007, consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (RASM) is estimated to have increased between 2.0 percent and 3.0 percent compared to January 2006, while mainline passenger RASM is estimated to have increased between 3.5 and 4.5 percent compared to January 2006. For December 2006, consolidated passenger RASM increased 4.1 percent compared to December 2005, while mainline passenger RASM increased 6.2 percent from December 2005.

January 2007 sales at continental.com increased 17 percent over January 2006.

Continental's regional operations had a January load factor of 72.3 percent, 0.4 points below the January 2006 load factor. Regional RPMs were 759.7 million and regional ASMs were 1,050.4 million in January 2007, resulting in a traffic increase of 3.6 percent and a capacity increase of 4.2 percent versus January 2006.

Continental Airlines is the world's fifth largest airline. Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 3,100 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 150 domestic and 136 international destinations. More than 400 additional points are served via SkyTeam alliance airlines. With more than 44,000 employees, Continental has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and together with Continental Express, carries approximately 67 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, except as required by applicable law.

                         PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC RESULTS
    JANUARY                   2007              2006                 Change

     REVENUE PASSENGER
      MILES (000)

      Domestic             3,357,564         3,203,670             4.8 Percent

      International        2,902,042         2,689,952             7.9 Percent
      Transatlantic        1,304,339         1,162,639            12.2 Percent
      Latin America          979,478           906,021             8.1 Percent
      Pacific                618,225           621,292            -0.5 Percent

      Mainline             6,259,606         5,893,622             6.2 Percent
      Regional               759,667           733,035             3.6 Percent
      Consolidated         7,019,273         6,626,657             5.9 Percent
    AVAILABLE SEAT MILES
    (000)
      Domestic             4,298,945         4,091,051             5.1 Percent

      International        3,852,025         3,626,685             6.2 Percent
      Transatlantic        1,792,013         1,610,631            11.3 Percent
      Latin America        1,225,435         1,179,789             3.9 Percent
      Pacific                834,577           836,265            -0.2 Percent

      Mainline             8,150,970         7,717,736             5.6 Percent
      Regional             1,050,400         1,007,721             4.2 Percent
      Consolidated         9,201,370         8,725,457             5.5 Percent
    PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR
      Domestic                  78.1 Percent      78.3 Percent    -0.2 Points

      International             75.3 Percent      74.2 Percent     1.1 Points
      Transatlantic             72.8 Percent      72.2 Percent     0.6 Points
      Latin America             79.9 Percent      76.8 Percent     3.1 Points
      Pacific                   74.1 Percent      74.3 Percent    -0.2 Points

      Mainline                  76.8 Percent      76.4 Percent     0.4 Points
      Regional                  72.3 Percent      72.7 Percent    -0.4 Points
      Consolidated              76.3 Percent      75.9 Percent     0.4 Points
    ONBOARD PASSENGERS
      Mainline             3,857,098         3,708,099             4.0 Percent
      Regional             1,354,589         1,297,533             4.4 Percent
      Consolidated         5,211,687         5,005,632             4.1 Percent
    CARGO REVENUE TON
     MILES (000)
      Total                   80,051            80,319            -0.3 Percent



                PRELIMINARY OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL RESULTS
    JANUARY                      2007              2006             Change

    On-Time Performance(1)      74.3%             78.1%          (3.8) Points
    Completion Factor(2)        99.6%             99.7%          (0.1) Points
    December 2006 year-over-year consolidated RASM change         4.1  Percent
    December 2006 year-over-year mainline RASM change             6.2  Percent
    January 2007 estimated year-over-year consolidated
     RASM change                                              2.0-3.0  Percent
    January 2007 estimated year-over-year mainline
     RASM change                                              3.5-4.5  Percent
    January 2007 estimated average price per gallon
     of fuel, including fuel taxes                               1.98  Dollars
    First Quarter 2007 estimated average price per
     gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes                        1.95  Dollars

     (1) Department of Transportation Arrivals within 14 minutes
     (2) Mainline Mileage Completion Percentage