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 22, 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)

(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):

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

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

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

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

 

 

Item 5.02.

Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

     On December 22, 2009, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Continental Airlines, Inc. (the “Company”) appointed a new director, Ms. Carolyn Corvi, to the Company’s Board of Directors, after increasing the total number of directors constituting the Board from ten to eleven. Ms. Corvi’s term will expire at the 2010 annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders.

     Ms. Corvi will receive the standard compensation for non-management directors, which is described in the section entitled “Corporate Governance — Compensation of Non-Management Directors” in the Company’s Annual Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 24, 2009.

     The Company’s press release announcing Ms. Corvi’s appointment 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

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.

EXHIBIT INDEX

99.1     Press 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 ANNOUNCES ELECTION
OF CAROLYN CORVI TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

     HOUSTON, Dec. 22, 2009 — Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) today announced that Carolyn Corvi has been elected to the airline’s board of directors.

     An experienced aviation executive, Corvi joins Continental’s board following more than 30 years at The Boeing Company, most recently serving as vice president and general manager of airplane programs in the commercial airplanes division. During her career at Boeing, Corvi served in a variety of positions, including vice president and general manager of the 737/757 programs, vice president of aircraft systems and interiors and vice president of the propulsion systems division.

     “We are pleased to welcome Carolyn to the Continental board of directors,” said Jeff Smisek, president and chief operating officer, and chairman and chief executive officer elect. “Her insight and industry experience will make her a tremendous asset.”

     Corvi holds a Master of Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Business and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Washington. She currently serves on the board of Goodrich Corporation, a global supplier to aerospace and defense industries. In addition, Corvi serves as board chair of Virginia Mason Medical Center and Health System and on the advisory cabinet of Highline Public Schools Aviation High School. She is also the co-founder of the Northwest Children’s Fund.

-more-

CAROLYN CORVI TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS/Page 2

     Corvi has won numerous awards and accolades throughout her distinguished career. The Wall Street Journal cited Corvi as one of “The 50 Women to Watch in 2008.” In 2006, she was the recipient of the Eli Whitney Productivity Award and honored as one of the Women of Influence by the Puget Sound Business Journal.

     Continental Airlines is the world’s fifth largest airline. Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 2,400 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 130 domestic and 132 international destinations. Continental is a member of Star Alliance, which provides access to more than 900 additional points in 169 countries via 25 other member airlines. With more than 41,000 employees, Continental has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and together with its regional partners, carries approximately 63 million passengers per year.

     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.

# # #