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Monday, June 1, 2009

Continental Airlines Reports May 2009 Operational Performance

HOUSTON, June 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) today reported a May consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 80.9 percent, 0.3 points below the May 2008 consolidated load factor and a mainline load factor of 81.3 percent, the same as the May 2008 mainline load factor. The carrier reported a record domestic mainline May load factor of 84.7 percent, 0.3 points above the May 2008 domestic mainline load factor and an international mainline load factor of 78.0 percent, 0.3 points below May 2008.

During the month, Continental recorded a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on-time arrival rate of 83.5 percent and a mainline segment completion factor of 99.6 percent.

In May 2009, Continental flew 7.5 billion consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and 9.3 billion consolidated available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a consolidated traffic decrease of 9.0 percent and a capacity decrease of 8.8 percent as compared to May 2008. In May 2009, Continental flew 6.8 billion mainline RPMs and 8.3 billion mainline ASMs, resulting in a mainline traffic decrease of 8.1 percent and a mainline capacity decrease of 8.1 percent as compared to May 2008. Domestic mainline traffic was 3.4 billion RPMs in May 2009, down 9.1 percent from May 2008, and domestic mainline capacity was 4.1 billion ASMs, down 9.5 percent from May 2008.

For May 2009, consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (RASM) is estimated to have decreased between 19.5 and 20.5 percent compared to May 2008, while mainline passenger RASM is estimated to have decreased between 19.0 and 20.0 percent compared to May 2008. Continental estimates that the H1N1 flu reduced consolidated passenger revenue by $30 million in May 2009.

For April 2009, consolidated passenger RASM decreased 13.1 percent compared to April 2008, while mainline passenger RASM decreased 11.3 percent compared to April 2008.

Continental’s regional operations had a May load factor of 78.0 percent, 1.8 points below the May 2008 regional load factor. Regional RPMs were 771.3 million and regional ASMs were 988.8 million in May 2009, resulting in a traffic decrease of 16.2 percent and a capacity decrease of 14.3 percent versus May 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 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 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
    MAY                                 2009          2008        Change
    REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000)
         Domestic                     3,446,903    3,792,761  -9.1 Percent

         International                3,314,327    3,567,213  -7.1 Percent
         Transatlantic                1,871,204    2,000,949  -6.5 Percent
         Latin America                  817,258      968,837 -15.6 Percent
         Pacific                        625,865      597,427   4.8 Percent

         Mainline                     6,761,230    7,359,974  -8.1 Percent
         Regional                       771,325      920,376 -16.2 Percent
         Consolidated                 7,532,555    8,280,350  -9.0 Percent

    AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000)
         Domestic                     4,069,697    4,495,504  -9.5 Percent

         International                4,249,984    4,553,042  -6.7 Percent
         Transatlantic                2,299,445    2,570,070 -10.5 Percent
         Latin America                1,060,212    1,199,265 -11.6 Percent
         Pacific                        890,327      783,707  13.6 Percent

         Mainline                     8,319,681    9,048,546  -8.1 Percent
         Regional                       988,790    1,153,844 -14.3 Percent
         Consolidated                 9,308,471   10,202,390  -8.8 Percent
     PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR
         Domestic                  84.7 Percent 84.4 Percent   0.3 Points

         International             78.0 Percent 78.3 Percent  -0.3 Points
         Transatlantic             81.4 Percent 77.9 Percent   3.5 Points
         Latin America             77.1 Percent 80.8 Percent  -3.7 Points
         Pacific                   70.3 Percent 76.2 Percent  -5.9 Points

         Mainline                  81.3 Percent 81.3 Percent   0.0 Point
         Regional                  78.0 Percent 79.8 Percent  -1.8 Points
         Consolidated              80.9 Percent 81.2 Percent  -0.3 Points
     ONBOARD PASSENGERS
         Mainline                     3,807,850    4,315,003 -11.8 Percent
         Regional                     1,455,398    1,679,243 -13.3 Percent
         Consolidated                 5,263,248    5,994,246 -12.2 Percent

    CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000)
         Total                           73,436       86,856 -15.5 Percent



                               PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC RESULTS
    YEAR-TO-DATE                        2009          2008        Change

    REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000)
         Domestic                    15,722,177   17,860,011 -12.0 Percent

         International               15,518,747   16,372,850  -5.2 Percent
         Transatlantic                7,654,042    8,247,066  -7.2 Percent
         Latin America                4,974,452    5,168,271  -3.8 Percent
         Pacific                      2,890,253    2,957,513  -2.3 Percent

         Mainline                    31,240,924   34,232,861  -8.7 Percent
         Regional                     3,647,757    4,162,783 -12.4 Percent
         Consolidated                34,888,681   38,395,644  -9.1 Percent

    AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000)
         Domestic                    19,142,629   21,562,135 -11.2 Percent

         International               20,701,325   21,489,990  -3.7 Percent
         Transatlantic               10,438,638   11,127,672  -6.2 Percent
         Latin America                6,299,670    6,362,853  -1.0 Percent
         Pacific                      3,963,017    3,999,465  -0.9 Percent

         Mainline                    39,843,954   43,052,125  -7.5 Percent
         Regional                     4,976,134    5,389,366  -7.7 Percent
         Consolidated                44,820,088   48,441,491  -7.5 Percent
     PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR
         Domestic                  82.1 Percent 82.8 Percent  -0.7 Points

         International             75.0 Percent 76.2 Percent  -1.2 Points
         Transatlantic             73.3 Percent 74.1 Percent  -0.8 Points
         Latin America             79.0 Percent 81.2 Percent  -2.2 Points
         Pacific                   72.9 Percent 73.9 Percent  -1.0 Points

         Mainline                  78.4 Percent 79.5 Percent  -1.1 Points
         Regional                  73.3 Percent 77.2 Percent  -3.9 Points
         Consolidated              77.8 Percent 79.3 Percent  -1.5 Points
     ONBOARD PASSENGERS
         Mainline                    18,336,558   20,723,878 -11.5 Percent
         Regional                     6,744,750    7,531,882 -10.5 Percent
         Consolidated                25,081,308   28,255,760 -11.2 Percent
     CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000)
         Total                          346,457      438,556 -21.0 Percent

                      PRELIMINARY OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL RESULTS
    MAY                            2009     2008                  Change
    On-Time Performance (1)        83.5%    75.4%               8.1  Points
    Completion Factor (2)          99.6%    99.7%              (0.1) Points
    April 2009 year-over-year
     consolidated RASM change                                 (13.1) Percent
    April 2009 year-over-year
     mainline RASM change                                     (11.3) Percent
    May 2009 estimated
     year-over-year consolidated
     RASM change                                     (19.5) - (20.5) Percent
    May 2009 estimated
     year-over-year mainline
     RASM change                                     (19.0) - (20.0) Percent
    May 2009 estimated average
     price per gallon of fuel,
     including fuel taxes                                      1.99  Dollars
    Second Quarter 2009
     estimated average price
     per gallon of fuel,
     including fuel taxes                                      2.07  Dollars

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


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