f060109form8k.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): June 1, 2009

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 June 1, 2009, we issued a press release announcing our May 2009 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 May 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.

June 1, 2009
By /s/ Lori A. Gobillot                      
   
Lori A. Gobillot
   
Staff Vice President and Assistant General
   
Counsel








 
 

 


EXHIBIT INDEX

99.1
Press Release for May Performance




f060109form8kexh991.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 MAY 2009
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
 
HOUSTON, June 1, 2009 – 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
             
             
   
( more )
       
 
 

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
             
             
   
( more )
       
 

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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