HOUSTON,
March 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) today reported a February consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 72.5 percent, 3.5 points below the
February 2008 consolidated load factor, and a mainline load factor of 72.9 percent, 3.1 points below the
February 2008 mainline load factor. In addition, the carrier reported a domestic mainline February load factor of 77.7
percent, 3.0 points below the
February 2008 domestic mainline load factor, and an international mainline load factor of 68.4
percent, 2.9 points below
February 2008.
During the month, Continental recorded a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on-time arrival rate of 77.7 percent and a mainline segment completion factor of 99.5 percent.
In February 2009, Continental flew 5.9 billion consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and 8.1 billion consolidated available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a consolidated traffic decrease of 13.2 percent and a consolidated capacity decrease of 8.9 percent as compared to February 2008. In February 2009, Continental flew 5.2 billion mainline RPMs and 7.2 billion mainline ASMs, resulting in a mainline traffic decrease of 13.1 percent and a mainline capacity decrease of 9.4 percent as compared to February 2008. Domestic mainline traffic was 2.7 billion RPMs in February 2009, down 17.2 percent from February 2008, and domestic mainline capacity was 3.4 billion ASMs, down 14.0 percent from February 2008.
For February 2009, consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (RASM) is estimated to have decreased between 11.5 and 12.5 percent compared to February 2008, while mainline passenger RASM is estimated to have decreased between 9.5 and 10.5 percent compared to February 2008.
For January 2009, consolidated passenger RASM decreased 4.8 percent compared to January 2008, while mainline passenger RASM decreased 3.4 percent compared to January 2008.
Continental’s regional operations had a February load factor of 69.3 percent, 6.5 points below the February 2008 regional load factor. Regional RPMs were 635.1 million and regional ASMs were 917.0 million in February 2009, resulting in a traffic decrease of 13.5 percent and a capacity decrease of 5.4 percent versus February 2008.
Continental Airlines is the world’s fifth largest airline. Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 2,800 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 135 domestic and 132 international destinations. More than 650 additional points are served via alliance partners. With more than 42,000 employees, Continental has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and together with Continental Express, 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 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
FEBRUARY 2009 2008 Change
REVENUE PASSENGER MILES
(000)
Domestic 2,673,822 3,227,535 -17.2 Percent
International 2,568,348 2,806,592 -8.5 Percent
Transatlantic 1,158,555 1,290,928 -10.3 Percent
Latin America 931,769 977,001 -4.6 Percent
Pacific 478,024 538,663 -11.3 Percent
Mainline 5,242,170 6,034,127 -13.1 Percent
Regional 635,057 734,042 -13.5 Percent
Consolidated 5,877,227 6,768,169 -13.2 Percent
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES
(000)
Domestic 3,439,946 4,000,174 -14.0 Percent
International 3,754,257 3,936,249 -4.6 Percent
Transatlantic 1,855,310 1,945,939 -4.7 Percent
Latin America 1,216,195 1,220,033 -0.3 Percent
Pacific 682,752 770,277 -11.4 Percent
Mainline 7,194,203 7,936,423 -9.4 Percent
Regional 917,000 968,983 -5.4 Percent
Consolidated 8,111,203 8,905,406 -8.9 Percent
PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR
Domestic 77.7 Percent 80.7 Percent -3.0 Points
International 68.4 Percent 71.3 Percent -2.9 Points
Transatlantic 62.4 Percent 66.3 Percent -3.9 Points
Latin America 76.6 Percent 80.1 Percent -3.5 Points
Pacific 70.0 Percent 69.9 Percent 0.1 Points
Mainline 72.9 Percent 76.0 Percent -3.1 Points
Regional 69.3 Percent 75.8 Percent -6.5 Points
Consolidated 72.5 Percent 76.0 Percent -3.5 Points
ONBOARD PASSENGERS
Mainline 3,182,980 3,763,301 -15.4 Percent
Regional 1,163,130 1,324,155 -12.2 Percent
Consolidated 4,346,110 5,087,456 -14.6 Percent
CARGO REVENUE TON MILES
(000)
Total 63,763 82,228 -22.5 Percent
PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC RESULTS
YEAR-TO-DATE 2009 2008 Change
REVENUE PASSENGER MILES
(000)
Domestic 5,519,051 6,558,037 -15.8 Percent
International 5,502,733 5,952,330 -7.6 Percent
Transatlantic 2,474,820 2,760,761 -10.4 Percent
Latin America 1,991,986 2,013,254 -1.1 Percent
Pacific 1,035,927 1,178,315 -12.1 Percent
Mainline 11,021,784 12,510,367 -11.9 Percent
Regional 1,283,853 1,477,963 -13.1 Percent
Consolidated 12,305,637 13,988,330 -12.0 Percent
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000)
Domestic 7,155,672 8,183,145 -12.6 Percent
International 7,848,764 8,123,365 -3.4 Percent
Transatlantic 3,888,795 4,004,923 -2.9 Percent
Latin America 2,543,282 2,494,093 2.0 Percent
Pacific 1,416,687 1,624,349 -12.8 Percent
Mainline 15,004,436 16,306,510 -8.0 Percent
Regional 1,892,959 1,994,876 -5.1 Percent
Consolidated 16,897,395 18,301,386 -7.7 Percent
PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR
Domestic 77.1 Percent 80.1 Percent -3.0 Points
International 70.1 Percent 73.3 Percent -3.2 Points
Transatlantic 63.6 Percent 68.9 Percent -5.3 Points
Latin America 78.3 Percent 80.7 Percent -2.4 Points
Pacific 73.1 Percent 72.5 Percent 0.6 Points
Mainline 73.5 Percent 76.7 Percent -3.2 Points
Regional 67.8 Percent 74.1 Percent -6.3 Points
Consolidated 72.8 Percent 76.4 Percent -3.6 Points
ONBOARD PASSENGERS
Mainline 6,567,382 7,656,605 -14.2 Percent
Regional 2,342,969 2,663,736 -12.0 Percent
Consolidated 8,910,351 10,320,341 -13.7 Percent
CARGO REVENUE TON MILES
(000)
Total 126,885 167,816 -24.4 Percent
PRELIMINARY OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL RESULTS
FEBRUARY 2009 2008 Change
On-Time Performance (1) 77.7% 70.2% 7.5 Points
Completion Factor (2) 99.5% 98.6% 0.9 Points
January 2009
year-over-year
consolidated RASM
change (4.8) Percent
January 2009
year-over-year mainline
RASM change (3.4) Percent
February 2009 estimated
year-over-year
consolidated RASM
change (11.5)-(12.5) Percent
February 2009 estimated
year-over-year mainline
RASM change (9.5)-(10.5) Percent
February 2009 estimated
average price per
gallon of fuel,
including fuel taxes 1.91 Dollars
First Quarter 2009
estimated average price
per gallon of fuel,
including fuel taxes 1.90 Dollars
(1) Department of Transportation Arrivals within 14 minutes
(2) Mainline Segment Completion Percentage
Print This Page
Email This Page
Archives
Copyright Permissions
