f080210form8k.htm


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT
TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 2, 2010

CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

DELAWARE
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

1-10323
74-2099724
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)

1600 Smith Street, Dept. HQSEO, Houston, Texas
77002
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)

(713) 324-2950
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

______________________________________
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act
 
(17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act
 
(17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


 
 

 


Item 8.01.
Other Events.

On August 2, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. issued a press release announcing its July 2010 performance. The press release is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.


Item 9.01.
Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)
Exhibits

 
99.1
Press Release for July Performance



 
 

 


SIGNATURE



Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Continental Airlines, Inc. has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 
CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, INC.

August 2, 2010
By /s/ Chris Kenny                     
   
Chris Kenny
   
Vice President and Controller
     






 
 

 
 

 


EXHIBIT INDEX

99.1
Press Release for July Performance


fexhibit991.htm


News Release
Exhibit 99.1
     
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 JULY 2010
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
 
HOUSTON, August 2, 2010 – Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) today reported a July  consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 88.0 percent, 0.7 points above the July 2009 consolidated load factor, and a mainline load factor of 88.5 percent, 0.7 points above the July 2009 mainline load factor. Both load factors were all-time records. The carrier reported a July domestic mainline load factor of 89.1 percent, 1.4 points below the July 2009 domestic mainline load factor, and an all-time record international mainline load factor of 88.0 percent, 2.7 points above July 2009.
 
During July, Continental recorded a U.S. Department of Transportation on-time arrival rate of 76.1 percent and a mainline segment completion factor of 99.8 percent.
 
In July 2010, Continental flew 9.1 billion consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and 10.3 billion consolidated available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a consolidated traffic increase of 2.5 percent and a capacity increase of 1.7 percent as compared to July 2009. In July 2010, Continental flew 8.2 billion mainline RPMs and 9.2 billion mainline ASMs, resulting in a mainline traffic increase of 2.4 percent and a mainline capacity increase of 1.6 percent compared to the same period last year. Domestic mainline traffic was 3.9 billion RPMs in July 2010, down 2.5 percent from July 2009, and domestic mainline capacity was 4.4 billion ASMs, down 0.9 percent from July 2009.
 
For July 2010, consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (RASM) is estimated to have increased between 20.5 and 21.5 percent compared to July 2009, while mainline RASM is estimated to have increased between 21.5 and 22.5 percent. For June 2010, consolidated passenger RASM increased 21.5 percent compared to June 2009, while mainline passenger RASM increased 20.9 percent compared to the same period last year.
 
Continental’s regional operations had an all-time record July load factor of 83.5 percent, 0.2 points above the July 2009 regional load factor. Regional RPMs were 936.2 million and regional ASMs were 1,120.7 million in July 2010, resulting in a traffic increase of 3.5 percent and a capacity increase of 3.2 percent versus July 2009.
 
Continental Airlines is the world’s fifth largest airline. Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 2,700 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 132 domestic and 137 international destinations. Continental is a member of Star Alliance, which overall offers more than 21,200 daily flights to 1,172 airports in 181 countries through its 28 member airlines. With more than 40,000 employees, Continental has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and together with its regional partners, carries approximately 63 million passengers per year.
 
Continental consistently earns awards and critical acclaim for both its operation and its corporate culture. For nine consecutive years, FORTUNE magazine has ranked Continental as the top U.S. airline on its “World’s Most Admired Companies” airline industry list. 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 2009 Form 10-K and its other securities filings, including any amendments thereto, which identify important matters such as the risks and uncertainties relating to the company’s proposed merger with a subsidiary of UAL Corporation, including the restrictions on the conduct of the company’s business pending the merger, the potential loss of management and other key pers onnel, and the potential failure of the merger to close in the expected time frame or at all, the risks and uncertainties relating to the company generally, including the potential for significant volatility in the cost of aircraft fuel, 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 the risks and uncertainties relating to the airline industry, including continuing weakness in the U.S. and global economies, the airline pricing environment, terrorist attacks, regulatory matters, excessive taxation, industry consolidation and airline alliances, 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 reflec t events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this press release, except as required by applicable law.

 
 

 


PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC RESULTS
JULY
2010
2009
Change
REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000)
       
 
Domestic
3,901,876
4,001,103
-2.5
 
Percent
             
 
International
4,268,060
3,980,949
7.2
 
Percent
 
Transatlantic
2,200,492
2,056,892
7.0
 
Percent
 
Latin America
1,269,389
1,223,653
3.7
 
Percent
 
Pacific
798,179
700,404
14.0
 
Percent
             
 
Mainline
8,169,936
7,982,052
2.4
 
Percent
 
Regional
936,200
904,401
3.5
 
Percent
 
Consolidated
9,106,136
8,886,453
2.5
 
Percent
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000)
         
 
Domestic
4,379,310
4,420,345
-0.9
 
Percent
             
 
International
4,849,283
4,667,213
3.9
 
Percent
 
Transatlantic
2,473,289
2,390,795
3.5
 
Percent
 
Latin America
1,463,231
1,384,104
5.7
 
Percent
 
Pacific
912,763
892,314
2.3
 
Percent
             
 
Mainline
9,228,593
9,087,558
1.6
 
Percent
 
Regional
1,120,701
1,085,986
3.2
 
Percent
 
Consolidated
10,349,294
10,173,544
1.7
 
Percent
PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR
         
 
Domestic
 89.1 Percent
 90.5 Percent
-1.4
 
Points
             
 
International
 88.0 Percent
 85.3 Percent
2.7
 
Points
 
Transatlantic
 89.0 Percent
 86.0 Percent
3.0
 
Points
 
Latin America
 86.8 Percent
 88.4 Percent
-1.6
 
Points
 
Pacific
 87.4 Percent
 78.5 Percent
8.9
 
Points
             
 
Mainline
 88.5 Percent
 87.8 Percent
0.7
 
Points
 
Regional
 83.5 Percent
 83.3 Percent
0.2
 
Points
 
Consolidated
 88.0 Percent
 87.3 Percent
0.7
 
Points
ONBOARD PASSENGERS
         
 
Mainline
4,365,187
4,499,357
-3.0
 
Percent
 
Regional
1,708,813
1,676,215
1.9
 
Percent
 
Consolidated
6,074,000
6,175,572
-1.6
 
Percent
CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000)
       
 
Total
93,524
79,436
17.7
 
Percent
             
             


 
 

 
PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC RESULTS
YEAR-TO-DATE
2010
2009
Change
REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000)
       
 
Domestic
23,230,919
23,417,499
-0.8
 
Percent
             
 
International
24,739,613
23,025,733
7.4
 
Percent
 
Transatlantic
11,976,346
11,613,477
3.1
 
Percent
 
Latin America
7,715,495
7,197,501
7.2
 
Percent
 
Pacific
5,047,772
4,214,755
19.8
 
Percent
             
 
Mainline
47,970,532
46,443,232
3.3
 
Percent
 
Regional
5,684,122
5,398,655
5.3
 
Percent
 
Consolidated
53,654,654
51,841,887
3.5
 
Percent
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000)
         
 
Domestic
27,327,361
27,758,649
-1.6
 
Percent
             
 
International
30,085,350
29,644,465
1.5
 
Percent
 
Transatlantic
14,481,240
15,113,170
-4.2
 
Percent
 
Latin America
9,490,913
8,839,270
7.4
 
Percent
 
Pacific
6,113,197
5,692,025
7.4
 
Percent
             
 
Mainline
57,412,711
57,403,114
0.0
 
Percent
 
Regional
7,192,147
7,100,907
1.3
 
Percent
 
Consolidated
64,604,858
64,504,021
0.2
 
Percent
PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR
         
 
Domestic
85.0 Percent
84.4 Percent
0.6
 
Points
             
 
International
82.2 Percent
77.7 Percent
4.5
 
Points
 
Transatlantic
82.7 Percent
76.8 Percent
5.9
 
Points
 
Latin America
81.3 Percent
81.4 Percent
-0.1
 
Points
 
Pacific
82.6 Percent
74.0 Percent
8.6
 
Points
             
 
Mainline
83.6 Percent
80.9 Percent
2.7
 
Points
 
Regional
79.0 Percent
76.0 Percent
3.0
 
Points
 
Consolidated
83.1 Percent
80.4 Percent
2.7
 
Points
ONBOARD PASSENGERS
         
 
Mainline
26,537,128
26,937,018
-1.5
 
Percent
 
Regional
10,370,647
9,994,233
3.8
 
Percent
 
Consolidated
36,907,775
36,931,251
-0.1
 
Percent
CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000)
       
 
Total
641,525
499,337
28.5
 
Percent


 
 

 
PRELIMINARY OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL RESULTS
JULY
 
2010
2009
Change
On-Time Performance 1
76.1%
78.5%
            (2.4)
  Points
Completion Factor 2
99.8%
99.6%
             0.2
  Points
June 2010 year-over-year consolidated RASM change
           21.5
  Percent
June 2010 year-over-year mainline RASM change
           20.9
  Percent
July 2010 estimated year-over-year consolidated RASM change
 20.5 - 21.5
  Percent
July 2010 estimated year-over-year mainline RASM change
 21.5 - 22.5
  Percent
July 2010 estimated average price per gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes
2.19
  Dollars
Third Quarter 2010 estimated average price per gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes
2.21
  Dollars
             
1 Department of Transportation Arrivals within 14 minutes
   
2 Mainline Segment Completion Percentage
     
             
     
###