Continental Airlines reported an October consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 79.0 percent, 0.5 points below the October 2007 consolidated load factor, and a mainline load factor of 79.5 percent, 0.3 points below the October 2007 mainline load factor.
Houston – In addition, the carrier reported a domestic mainline October load factor of 83.0 percent, 0.5 points above the October 2007 domestic mainline load factor, and an international mainline load factor of 75.9 percent, 0.8 points below October 2007.
During the month, Continental recorded a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on-time arrival rate of 81.4 percent and a mainline segment completion factor of 99.7 percent.
In October 2008, Continental flew 7.1 billion consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and 9.0 billion consolidated available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a consolidated traffic decrease of 7.3 percent and a capacity decrease of 6.7 percent as compared to October 2007. In October 2008, Continental flew 6.4 billion mainline RPMs and 8.0 billion mainline ASMs, resulting in a mainline traffic decrease of 7.6 percent and a mainline capacity decrease of 7.3 percent as compared to October 2007. Domestic mainline traffic was 3.4 billion RPMs in October 2008, down 10.2 percent from October 2007, and domestic mainline capacity was 4.1 billion ASMs, down 10.8 percent from October 2007.
For October 2008, consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (RASM) is estimated to have increased between 9.0 and 10.0 percent compared to October 2007, while mainline passenger RASM is estimated to have increased between 10.0 and 11.0 percent compared to October 2007. Mainline domestic RASM for October 2008 is estimated to have increased between 10.0 and 11.0 percent year over year. Mainline domestic RASM for November 2008 is expected to be up 4.0 to 6.0 percent year over year, as close in yields are expected to come in lower than earlier anticipated as a result of the weakened economy.
For September 2008, consolidated passenger RASM increased 12.4 percent compared to September 2007, while mainline passenger RASM increased 14.1 percent compared to September 2007.
Continental’s regional operations had an October load factor of 74.9 percent, 2.0 points below the October 2007 regional load factor. Regional RPMs were 785.2 million and regional ASMs were 1,048.3 million in October 2008, resulting in a traffic decrease of 4.4 percent and a capacity decrease of 1.8 percent versus October 2007.
