form8k.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): February 1, 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 February 1, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. issued a press release announcing its January 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 January 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.

February 1, 2010
By /s/ Lori A. Gobillot                      
   
Lori A. Gobillot
   
Staff Vice President and Assistant General
   
Counsel






 
 

 
 

 


EXHIBIT INDEX

99.1
Press Release for January Performance



exhibit991.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 JANUARY 2010
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
 
HOUSTON, Feb. 1, 2010 – Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) today reported a January consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 77.2 percent, 4.0 points above the January 2009 consolidated load factor, and a mainline load factor of 78.0 percent, 4.0 points above the January 2009 mainline load factor.  Both January load factors were records for the month.  The carrier reported a domestic mainline January load factor of 78.2 percent, 1.6 points above the January 2009 domestic mainline load factor, and a record international mainline load factor of 77.8 percent, 6.1 points above January 2009.
 
During January, Continental recorded a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on-time arrival rate of 82.3 percent and a mainline segment completion factor of 99.5 percent.
 
In January 2010, Continental flew 7.0 billion consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and 9.0 billion consolidated available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a consolidated traffic increase of 8.5 percent and a capacity increase of 2.8 percent as compared to January 2009. In January 2010, Continental flew 6.3 billion mainline RPMs and 8.1 billion mainline ASMs, resulting in a mainline traffic increase of 8.6 percent and a mainline capacity increase of 3.1 percent as compared to January 2009. Domestic mainline traffic was 2.9 billion RPMs in January 2010, up 2.4 percent from January 2009, and domestic mainline capacity was 3.7 billion ASMs, up 0.2 percent from January 2009.
 
For January 2010, consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (RASM) is estimated to have decreased between 1.0 and 2.0 percent compared to January 2009, while mainline RASM is estimated to have decreased between 2.5 and 3.5 percent. For December 2009, consolidated passenger RASM decreased 4.1 percent compared to December 2008, while mainline passenger RASM decreased 4.8 percent compared to December 2008.
 
Continental’s regional operations had a January load factor of 70.7 percent, 4.2 points above the January 2009 regional load factor. Regional RPMs were 696.8 million and regional ASMs were 984.9 million in January 2010, resulting in a traffic increase of 7.4 percent and a capacity increase of 0.9 percent versus January 2009.
 
Continental Airlines is the world’s fifth largest airline.  Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 2,500 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 133 domestic and 135 international destinations.   Continental is a member of Star Alliance, which overall offers 19,700 daily flights to 1,077 airports in 175 countries through its 26 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.
 
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
JANUARY
2010
2009
Change
REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000)
       
 
Domestic
2,912,661
2,845,229
2.4
 
Percent
             
 
International
3,365,819
2,934,385
14.7
 
Percent
 
Transatlantic
1,489,850
1,316,265
13.2
 
Percent
 
Latin America
1,167,462
1,060,217
10.1
 
Percent
 
Pacific
708,507
557,903
27.0
 
Percent
             
 
Mainline
6,278,480
5,779,614
8.6
 
Percent
 
Regional
696,803
648,796
7.4
 
Percent
 
Consolidated
6,975,283
6,428,410
8.5
 
Percent
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000)
         
 
Domestic
3,724,256
3,715,726
0.2
 
Percent
             
 
International
4,327,218
4,094,507
5.7
 
Percent
 
Transatlantic
1,947,216
2,033,485
-4.2
 
Percent
 
Latin America
1,449,383
1,327,087
9.2
 
Percent
 
Pacific
930,619
733,935
26.8
 
Percent
             
 
Mainline
8,051,474
7,810,233
3.1
 
Percent
 
Regional
984,944
975,959
0.9
 
Percent
 
Consolidated
9,036,418
8,786,192
2.8
 
Percent
PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR
         
 
Domestic
 78.2 Percent
 76.6 Percent
1.6
 
Points
             
 
International
 77.8 Percent
 71.7 Percent
6.1
 
Points
 
Transatlantic
 76.5 Percent
 64.7 Percent
11.8
 
Points
 
Latin America
 80.5 Percent
 79.9 Percent
0.6
 
Points
 
Pacific
 76.1 Percent
 76.0 Percent
0.1
 
Points
             
 
Mainline
 78.0 Percent
 74.0 Percent
4.0
 
Points
 
Regional
 70.7 Percent
 66.5 Percent
4.2
 
Points
 
Consolidated
 77.2 Percent
 73.2 Percent
4.0
 
Points
ONBOARD PASSENGERS
         
 
Mainline
3,453,155
3,384,402
2.0
 
Percent
 
Regional
1,253,951
1,179,839
6.3
 
Percent
 
Consolidated
4,707,106
4,564,241
3.1
 
Percent
CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000)
       
 
Total
64,381
63,103
2.0
 
Percent


 
 

 


PRELIMINARY OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL RESULTS
JANUARY
2010
2009
Change
On-Time Performance 1
82.3%
77.4%
             4.9
 Points
Completion Factor 2
99.5%
99.3%
             0.2
 Points
December 2009 year-over-year consolidated RASM change
           (4.1)
 Percent
December 2009 year-over-year mainline RASM change
           (4.8)
 Percent
January 2010 estimated year-over-year consolidated RASM change
 (1.0) - (2.0)
 Percent
January 2010 estimated year-over-year mainline RASM change
 (2.5) - (3.5)
 Percent
January 2010 estimated average price per gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes
2.16
 Dollars
First Quarter 2010 estimated average price per gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes
2.10
 Dollars
             
1 Department of Transportation Arrivals within 14 minutes
   
2 Mainline Segment Completion Percentage
   
             
     
###