| News Release | Exhibit 99.1 |
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| Contact: | Corporate Communications | |
| Houston: | 713.324.5080 | |
| Email: | corpcomm@coair.com | |
| News archive: | continental.com/company/news/ | Address: | P.O. Box 4607, Houston, TX 77210-4607 |
CONTINENTAL AIRLINES REPORTS FEBRUARY 2009
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
HOUSTON, March 2, 2009 – 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 |
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| | 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 |
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| | 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 |
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| | 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 |
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| | 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 |
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| 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 |
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| | 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 |
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| | 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 1 Department of Transportation Arrivals within 14 minutes | | | |
| 2 Mainline Segment Completion Percentage | | | | |
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