HOUSTON, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) today reported an August consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 85.8 percent, 1.9
points above the August 2008 consolidated load factor, and a mainline load factor of 86.6 percent, 1.7 points above the August 2008 mainline load factor. The carrier reported a domestic mainline August load factor of 88.8
percent, 2.5 points above the August 2008 domestic mainline load factor, and an international mainline load factor of 84.6 percent, 1.2 points above August 2008. All four August load factors were records for the month.
During the month, Continental recorded a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on-time arrival rate of 82.4 percent and a mainline segment completion factor of 99.8 percent.
In August 2009, Continental flew 8.8 billion consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and 10.2 billion consolidated available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a consolidated traffic decrease of 3.9 percent and a capacity decrease of 6.0 percent as compared to August 2008. In August 2009, Continental flew 7.9 billion mainline RPMs and 9.1 billion mainline ASMs, resulting in a mainline traffic decrease of 3.6 percent and a mainline capacity decrease of 5.6 percent as compared to August 2008. Domestic mainline traffic was 3.9 billion RPMs in August 2009, down 6.1 percent from August 2008, and domestic mainline capacity was 4.4 billion ASMs, down 8.7 percent from August 2008.
For August 2009, consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (RASM) is estimated to have decreased between 16.5 and 17.5 percent compared to August 2008 while mainline RASM is estimated to have decreased between 17.0 and 18.0 percent. For July 2009, consolidated passenger RASM decreased 17.4 percent compared to July 2008, while mainline passenger RASM decreased 18.3 percent compared to July 2008.
Continental's regional operations had an August load factor of 79.2 percent, 2.8 points above the August 2008 regional load factor. Regional RPMs were 860.6 million and regional ASMs were 1,086.9 million in August 2009, resulting in a traffic decrease of 6.2 percent and a capacity decrease of 9.5 percent versus August 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 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
AUGUST 2009 2008 Change
REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000)
Domestic 3,931,264 4,184,702 -6.1 Percent
International 3,992,022 4,037,658 -1.1 Percent
Transatlantic 2,085,149 2,224,100 -6.2 Percent
Latin America 1,165,992 1,163,184 0.2 Percent
Pacific 740,881 650,374 13.9 Percent
Mainline 7,923,286 8,222,360 -3.6 Percent
Regional 860,623 917,303 -6.2 Percent
Consolidated 8,783,909 9,139,663 -3.9 Percent
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000)
Domestic 4,428,696 4,848,977 -8.7 Percent
International 4,716,295 4,839,841 -2.6 Percent
Transatlantic 2,390,346 2,664,539 -10.3 Percent
Latin America 1,402,591 1,380,505 1.6 Percent
Pacific 923,358 794,797 16.2 Percent
Mainline 9,144,991 9,688,818 -5.6 Percent
Regional 1,086,877 1,200,890 -9.5 Percent
Consolidated 10,231,868 10,889,708 -6.0 Percent
PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR
Domestic 88.8 Percent 86.3 Percent 2.5 Points
International 84.6 Percent 83.4 Percent 1.2 Points
Transatlantic 87.2 Percent 83.5 Percent 3.7 Points
Latin America 83.1 Percent 84.3 Percent -1.2 Points
Pacific 80.2 Percent 81.8 Percent -1.6 Points
Mainline 86.6 Percent 84.9 Percent 1.7 Points
Regional 79.2 Percent 76.4 Percent 2.8 Points
Consolidated 85.8 Percent 83.9 Percent 1.9 Points
ONBOARD PASSENGERS
Mainline 4,350,956 4,656,022 -6.6 Percent
Regional 1,587,369 1,665,190 -4.7 Percent
Consolidated 5,938,325 6,321,212 -6.1 Percent
CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000)
Total 81,061 83,392 -2.8 Percent
PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC RESULTS
YEAR-TO-DATE 2009 2008 Change
REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000)
Domestic 27,348,763 30,170,036 -9.4 Percent
International 27,017,755 28,258,956 -4.4 Percent
Transatlantic 13,698,626 14,813,743 -7.5 Percent
Latin America 8,363,493 8,581,718 -2.5 Percent
Pacific 4,955,636 4,863,495 1.9 Percent
Mainline 54,366,518 58,428,992 -7.0 Percent
Regional 6,259,278 6,938,486 -9.8 Percent
Consolidated 60,625,796 65,367,478 -7.3 Percent
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000)
Domestic 32,187,345 35,893,969 -10.3 Percent
International 34,360,761 35,701,874 -3.8 Percent
Transatlantic 17,503,516 19,029,449 -8.0 Percent
Latin America 10,241,861 10,335,064 -0.9 Percent
Pacific 6,615,384 6,337,361 4.4 Percent
Mainline 66,548,106 71,595,843 -7.1 Percent
Regional 8,187,784 8,979,974 -8.8 Percent
Consolidated 74,735,890 80,575,817 -7.2 Percent
PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR
Domestic 85.0 Percent 84.1 Percent 0.9 Points
International 78.6 Percent 79.2 Percent -0.6 Points
Transatlantic 78.3 Percent 77.8 Percent 0.5 Points
Latin America 81.7 Percent 83.0 Percent -1.3 Points
Pacific 74.9 Percent 76.7 Percent -1.8 Points
Mainline 81.7 Percent 81.6 Percent 0.1 Points
Regional 76.4 Percent 77.3 Percent -0.9 Points
Consolidated 81.1 Percent 81.1 Percent 0.0 Point
ONBOARD PASSENGERS
Mainline 31,287,974 34,551,518 -9.4 Percent
Regional 11,581,602 12,555,206 -7.8 Percent
Consolidated 42,869,576 47,106,724 -9.0 Percent
CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000)
Total 580,399 691,406 -16.1 Percent
PRELIMINARY OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL RESULTS
AUGUST 2009 2008 Change
On-Time Performance (1) 82.4% 73.8% 8.6 Points
Completion Factor (2) 99.8% 99.4% 0.4 Points
July 2009 year-over-year consolidated RASM change (17.4) Percent
July 2009 year-over-year mainline RASM change (18.3) Percent
August 2009 estimated year-over-year consolidated
RASM change (16.5) - (17.5) Percent
August 2009 estimated year-over-year mainline
RASM change (17.0) - (18.0) Percent
August 2009 estimated average price per gallon
of fuel, including fuel taxes 1.99 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
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