Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) reported an October consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 79.3 percent, 2.0 points above last year’s October consolidated load factor.
HOUSTON – The carrier reported a mainline load factor of 79.5 percent, 2.1 points above the October 2005 mainline load factor, and a domestic mainline load factor of 83.1 percent, 2.9 points above October 2005. All three were records for the month. In addition, the airline had an international mainline load factor of 75.4 percent, 1.4 points above October 2005.
During the month, Continental recorded a U.S. Department of Transportation on-time arrival rate of 71.4 percent and an October mainline completion factor of 99.6 percent.
In October 2006, Continental flew 7.3 billion consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and 9.2 billion consolidated available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a traffic increase of 9.5 percent and a capacity increase of 6.8 percent as compared to October 2005. In October 2006, Continental flew 6.4 billion mainline RPMs and 8.1 billion mainline ASMs, resulting in a mainline traffic increase of 9.5 percent and a 6.6 percent increase in mainline capacity as compared to October 2005. Domestic mainline traffic was 3.6 billion RPMs in October 2006, up 8.0 percent from October 2005, and domestic mainline capacity was 4.3 billion ASMs, up 4.4 percent from October 2005.
[GADS_NEWS]For October 2006, consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (RASM) is estimated to have increased between 4.5 and 5.5 percent compared to October 2005, while mainline passenger RASM is estimated to have increased between 5.0 and 6.0 percent compared to October 2005. For September 2006, both consolidated and mainline passenger RASM increased 4.8 percent compared to September 2005.
October 2006 sales at continental.com increased 26.0 percent over October 2005.
Continental’s regional operations had a record October load factor of 77.3 percent, 0.6 points above last year’s October load factor. Regional RPMs were 854.6 million and regional ASMs were 1,105.0 million in October 2006, resulting in a traffic increase of 9.6 percent and a capacity increase of 8.6 percent versus October 2005.
Continental Airlines is the world’s fifth largest airline. Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 3,200 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 151 domestic and 136 international destinations. More than 400 additional points are served via SkyTeam alliance airlines. With more than 43,000 employees, Continental has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and together with Continental Express, carries approximately 61 million passengers per year. Continental consistently earns awards and critical acclaim for both its operation and its corporate culture.
In 2006, Continental Airlines won its sixth J.D. Power and Associates award since 1996. The carrier received the highest rank in customer satisfaction among network carriers in North America in the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Airline Satisfaction Index Survey(SM). For the third consecutive year, FORTUNE magazine named Continental the No. 1 Most Admired Global Airline on its 2006 list of Most Admired Global Companies. Continental was also named the No. 1 airline on the publication’s 2006 America’s Most Admired airline industry list. Additionally, Continental again won major awards at the OAG Airline of the Year Awards including „Best Airline Based in North America“ for the third year in a row, and „Best Executive/Business Class“ for the fourth consecutive year. For more company information, visit 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 2005 10-K and its other securities filings, including any amendments thereto, which identify important matters such as the consequences of our significant financial losses and high leverage, terrorist attacks, domestic and international economic conditions, the significant cost of aircraft fuel, labor costs, competition, and industry conditions, including the demand for air travel, the airline pricing environment and industry capacity decisions, regulatory matters, disruptions in its computer systems, 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
OCTOBER 2006 2005 Change
REVENUE PASSENGER
MILES (000)
Domestic 3,584,913 3,317,921 8.0 Percent
International 2,822,048 2,535,725 11.3 Percent
Transatlantic 1,546,101 1,387,163 11.5 Percent
Latin America 655,677 555,753 18.0 Percent
Pacific 620,270 592,809 4.6 Percent
Mainline 6,406,961 5,853,646 9.5 Percent
Regional 854,558 779,923 9.6 Percent
Consolidated 7,261,519 6,633,569 9.5 Percent
AVAILABLE SEAT
MILES (000)
Domestic 4,315,902 4,134,740 4.4 Percent
International 3,740,648 3,424,930 9.2 Percent
Transatlantic 2,028,134 1,821,180 11.4 Percent
Latin America 901,038 789,408 14.1 Percent
Pacific 811,476 814,342 -0.4 Percent
Mainline 8,056,550 7,559,670 6.6 Percent
Regional 1,105,028 1,017,333 8.6 Percent
Consolidated 9,161,578 8,577,003 6.8 Percent
PASSENGER LOAD
FACTOR
Domestic 83.1 Percent 80.2 Percent 2.9 Points
International 75.4 Percent 74.0 Percent 1.4 Points
Transatlantic 76.2 Percent 76.2 Percent 0.0 Points
Latin America 72.8 Percent 70.4 Percent 2.4 Points
Pacific 76.4 Percent 72.8 Percent 3.6 Points
Mainline 79.5 Percent 77.4 Percent 2.1 Points
Regional 77.3 Percent 76.7 Percent 0.6 Points
Consolidated 79.3 Percent 77.3 Percent 2.0 Points
ONBOARD PASSENGERS
Mainline 3,947,787 3,659,411 7.9 Percent
Regional 1,560,093 1,415,668 10.2 Percent
Consolidated 5,507,880 5,075,079 8.5 Percent
CARGO REVENUE TON
MILES (000)
Total 96,408 95,400 1.1 Percent
PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC RESULTS
YEAR-TO-DATE 2006 2005 Change
REVENUE PASSENGER
MILES (000)
Domestic 36,040,992 33,171,879 8.6 Percent
International 30,325,388 26,265,327 15.5 Percent
Transatlantic 15,134,401 13,041,983 16.0 Percent
Latin America 8,930,736 7,574,781 17.9 Percent
Pacific 6,260,251 5,648,563 10.8 Percent
Mainline 66,366,380 59,437,206 11.7 Percent
Regional 8,637,199 7,361,791 17.3 Percent
Consolidated 75,003,579 66,798,997 12.3 Percent
AVAILABLE SEAT
MILES (000)
Domestic 43,032,142 40,797,835 5.5 Percent
International 38,701,827 33,782,460 14.6 Percent
Transatlantic 19,188,816 16,257,613 18.0 Percent
Latin America 11,365,267 10,024,616 13.4 Percent
Pacific 8,147,744 7,500,231 8.6 Percent
Mainline 81,733,969 74,580,295 9.6 Percent
Regional 11,063,890 9,895,570 11.8 Percent
Consolidated 92,797,859 84,475,865 9.9 Percent
PASSENGER LOAD
FACTOR
Domestic 83.8 Percent 81.3 Percent 2.5 Points
International 78.4 Percent 77.7 Percent 0.7 Points
Transatlantic 78.9 Percent 80.2 Percent -1.3 Points
Latin America 78.6 Percent 75.6 Percent 3.0 Points
Pacific 76.8 Percent 75.3 Percent 1.5 Points
Mainline 81.2 Percent 79.7 Percent 1.5 Points
Regional 78.1 Percent 74.4 Percent 3.7 Points
Consolidated 80.8 Percent 79.1 Percent 1.7 Points
ONBOARD PASSENGERS
Mainline 40,699,650 37,365,379 8.9 Percent
Regional 15,323,268 13,277,401 15.4 Percent
Consolidated 56,022,918 50,642,780 10.6 Percent
CARGO REVENUE TON
MILES (000)
Total 890,556 840,376 6.0 Percent
PRELIMINARY OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL RESULTS
OCTOBER 2006 2005 Change
On-Time Performance (A) 71.4% 78.1% (6.7) Points
Completion Factor (B) 99.6% 98.8% 0.8 Points
September 2006 year-over-year consolidated RASM change 4.8 Percent
September 2006 year-over-year mainline RASM change 4.8 Percent
October 2006 estimated year-over-year consolidated
RASM change 4.5-5.5 Percent
October 2006 estimated year-over-year mainline
RASM change 5.0-6.0 Percent
October 2006 estimated average price per gallon
of fuel, including fuel taxes 2.07 Dollars
Forth Quarter 2006 estimated average price per
gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes 2.05 Dollars
(A) Department of Transportation Arrivals within 14 minutes
(B) Mainline Mileage Completion Percentage
SOURCE Continental Airlines
