UNITED STATES

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): December 3, 2007

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 December 3, 2007, we issued a press release announcing our November 2007 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 November 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.

 

 

December 3, 2007

By  /s/ Lori A. Gobillot

      Lori A. Gobillot

Staff Vice President and Assistant General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

99.1

Press Release for November Performance

   

 

 

News Release

EXHIBIT 99.1

News Release

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 NOVEMBER 2007

OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE

HOUSTON, Dec. 3, 2007 - Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) today reported a November consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 80.1 percent, 0.6 points below the November 2006 consolidated load factor, and a mainline load factor of 80.4 percent, 0.7 points below the November 2006 mainline load factor. In addition, the carrier reported a domestic mainline load factor of 83.1 percent, 1.1 points below November 2006, and an international mainline load factor of 77.3 percent, 0.1 points below November 2006.

During the month, Continental recorded a U.S. Department of Transportation on-time arrival rate of 78.0 percent and a mainline segment completion factor of 99.8 percent.

In November 2007, Continental flew 7.4 billion consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and 9.2 billion consolidated available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a traffic increase of 4.6 percent and a capacity increase of 5.3 percent as compared to November 2006. In November 2007, Continental flew 6.6 billion mainline RPMs and 8.2 billion mainline ASMs, resulting in a mainline traffic increase of 5.8 percent and a mainline capacity increase of 6.8 percent as compared to November 2006. Domestic mainline traffic was 3.6 billion RPMs in November 2007, up 2.6 percent from November 2006, and domestic mainline capacity was 4.4 billion ASMs, up 4.0 percent from November 2006.

In light of the recent significant rise in the cost of jet fuel, the company has lowered it capacity growth estimate for full year 2008.  The company currently expects to grow its mainline capacity 2 percent to 3 percent in 2008, down from its previous guidance of 3 percent to 4 percent.  The company expects its 2008 mainline domestic capacity to be down slightly for the year.

For November 2007, consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (RASM) is estimated to have increased between 7.0 and 8.0 percent compared to November 2006, while mainline passenger RASM is estimated to have increased between 7.5 and 8.5 percent compared to November 2006. For October 2007, consolidated passenger RASM increased 6.5 percent compared to October 2006, while mainline passenger RASM increased 7.3 percent from October 2006.

Continental's regional operations had a record November load factor of 77.7 percent, 0.4 points above the November 2006 load factor. Regional RPMs were 785.0 million and regional ASMs were 1,010.0 million in November 2007, resulting in a traffic decrease of 4.6 percent and a capacity decrease of 5.1 percent versus November 2006.

Continental Airlines is the world's fifth largest airline. Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 3,100 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 144 domestic and 138 international destinations. More than 580 additional points are served via SkyTeam alliance airlines.  With more than 45,000 employees, Continental has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and together with Continental Express, carries approximately 67 million passengers per year. Continental consistently earns awards and critical acclaim for both its operation and its corporate culture.

For the fourth consecutive year, FORTUNE magazine named Continental the No. 1 World's Most Admired Airline on its 2007 list of World's Most Admired Companies. Continental was also named the No. 1 airline on the publication's 2007 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 fourth year in a row, and "Best Executive/Business Class" for the fifth 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 2006 10-K and its other securities filings, including any amendments thereto, which identify important matters such as the consequences of the company's significant financial losses and high leverage, the significant cost of aircraft fuel, its high labor and pension costs, service interruptions at one of its hub airports, disruptions in its computer systems, and industry conditions, including the airline pricing environment, industry capacity decisions, industry consolidation, terrorist attacks, regulatory matters, excessive taxation, the availab ility 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.

( more )

 

 

PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC RESULTS

NOVEMBER

2007

2006

Change

REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000)

Domestic

3,622,394

3,531,712

2.6

Percent

International

2,943,357

2,673,910

10.1

Percent

Transatlantic

1,518,980

1,326,422

14.5

Percent

Latin America

821,060

772,127

6.3

Percent

Pacific

603,317

575,361

4.9

Percent

Mainline

6,565,751

6,205,622

5.8

Percent

Regional

785,014

822,818

-4.6

Percent

Consolidated

7,350,765

7,028,440

4.6

Percent

AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000)

Domestic

4,361,285

4,193,212

4.0

Percent

International

3,805,619

3,454,477

10.2

Percent

Transatlantic

1,975,055

1,705,811

15.8

Percent

Latin America

1,028,432

982,499

4.7

Percent

Pacific

802,132

766,167

4.7

Percent

Mainline

8,166,904

7,647,689

6.8

Percent

Regional

1,010,028

1,064,690

-5.1

Percent

Consolidated

9,176,932

8,712,379

5.3

Percent

PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR

Domestic

83.1 Percent

84.2 Percent

-1.1

Points

International

77.3 Percent

77.4 Percent

-0.1

Points

Transatlantic

76.9 Percent

77.8 Percent

-0.9

Points

Latin America

79.8 Percent

78.6 Percent

1.2

Points

Pacific

75.2 Percent

75.1 Percent

0.1

Points

Mainline

80.4 Percent

81.1 Percent

-0.7

Points

Regional

77.7 Percent

77.3 Percent

0.4

Points

Consolidated

80.1 Percent

80.7 Percent

-0.6

Points

ONBOARD PASSENGERS

Mainline

4,049,188

3,956,002

2.4

Percent

Regional

1,453,061

1,487,158

-2.3

Percent

Consolidated

5,502,249

5,443,160

1.1

Percent

CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000)

Total

93,086

91,525

1.7

Percent

( more )

 

PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC RESULTS

YEAR-TO-DATE

2007

2006

Change

REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000)

Domestic

41,663,896

39,572,704

5.3

Percent

International

35,814,161

32,999,298

8.5

Percent

Transatlantic

18,593,411

16,460,823

13.0

Percent

Latin America

10,198,420

9,702,863

5.1

Percent

Pacific

7,022,330

6,835,612

2.7

Percent

Mainline

77,478,057

72,572,002

6.8

Percent

Regional

9,063,304

9,460,010

-4.2

Percent

Consolidated

86,541,361

82,032,012

5.5

Percent

AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000)

Domestic

49,553,311

47,225,358

4.9

Percent

International

44,922,409

42,156,314

6.6

Percent

Transatlantic

23,328,808

20,894,638

11.6

Percent

Latin America

12,602,633

12,347,765

2.1

Percent

Pacific

8,990,968

8,913,911

0.9

Percent

Mainline

94,475,720

89,381,672

5.7

Percent

Regional

11,573,181

12,128,572

-4.6

Percent

Consolidated

106,048,901

101,510,244

4.5

Percent

PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR

Domestic

84.1 Percent

83.8 Percent

0.3

Points

International

79.7 Percent

78.3 Percent

1.4

Points

Transatlantic

79.7 Percent

78.8 Percent

0.9

Points

Latin America

80.9 Percent

78.6 Percent

2.3

Points

Pacific

78.1 Percent

76.7 Percent

1.4

Points

Mainline

82.0 Percent

81.2 Percent

0.8

Points

Regional

78.3 Percent

78.0 Percent

0.3

Points

Consolidated

81.6 Percent

80.8 Percent

0.8

Points

ONBOARD PASSENGERS

Mainline

46,814,413

44,655,652

4.8

Percent

Regional

16,538,134

16,810,384

-1.6

Percent

Consolidated

63,352,547

61,466,036

3.1

Percent

CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000)

Total

945,723

982,092

-3.7

Percent

( more )

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