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UNITED
STATES
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SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
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Washington,
D.C. 20549
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FORM
8-K
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CURRENT
REPORT PURSUANT
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TO
SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
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SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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Date
of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 2,
2009
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CONTINENTAL
AIRLINES, INC.
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(Exact
Name of Registrant as Specified in Its
Charter)
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DELAWARE
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(State
or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation)
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1-10323
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74-2099724
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(Commission
File Number)
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(IRS
Employer Identification No.)
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1600
Smith Street, Dept. HQSEO, Houston, Texas
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77002
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(Address
of Principal Executive Offices)
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(Zip
Code)
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(713)
324-2950
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(Registrant's
Telephone Number, Including Area
Code)
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______________________________________
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(Former
Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last
Report)
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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):
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Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)
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Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)
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Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange
Act
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(17
CFR 240.14d-2(b))
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Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange
Act
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(17
CFR 240.13e-4(c))
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Item
8.01.
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Other
Events.
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On March 2, 2009, we issued a press
release announcing our February 2009 performance. The press release is filed
herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
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Item
9.01.
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Financial Statements
and Exhibits.
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(d)
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Exhibits
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99.1
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Press
Release for February Performance
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SIGNATURE
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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.
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CONTINENTAL
AIRLINES, INC.
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March
2, 2009
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By
/s/
Lori A.
Gobillot
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Lori
A. Gobillot
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Staff
Vice President and Assistant General
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Counsel
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EXHIBIT
INDEX
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99.1
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Press
Release for February Performance
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News
Release
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Exhibit
99.1
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Contact:
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Corporate
Communications
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Houston:
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713.324.5080
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Email:
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corpcomm@coair.com
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News
archive:
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continental.com/company/news/
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Address:
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P.O.
Box 4607, Houston,
TX 77210-4607
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CONTINENTAL
AIRLINES REPORTS FEBRUARY 2009
OPERATIONAL
PERFORMANCE
HOUSTON,
March 2, 2009 – Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) today reported a February
consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 72.5 percent, 3.5
points below the February 2008 consolidated load factor, and a mainline
load factor of 72.9 percent, 3.1 points below the February 2008
mainline load factor. In addition, the carrier reported a domestic
mainline February load factor of 77.7 percent, 3.0
points below the February 2008 domestic mainline load factor, and an
international mainline load factor of 68.4 percent, 2.9
points below February 2008.
During
the month, Continental recorded a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
on-time arrival rate of 77.7 percent and a mainline segment completion factor of
99.5 percent.
In
February 2009, Continental flew 5.9 billion consolidated revenue passenger miles
(RPMs) and 8.1 billion consolidated available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a
consolidated traffic decrease of 13.2 percent and a consolidated capacity
decrease of 8.9 percent as compared to February 2008. In February 2009,
Continental flew 5.2 billion mainline RPMs and 7.2 billion mainline ASMs,
resulting in a mainline traffic decrease of 13.1 percent and a mainline capacity
decrease of 9.4 percent as compared to February 2008. Domestic mainline traffic
was 2.7 billion RPMs in February 2009, down 17.2 percent from February 2008, and
domestic mainline capacity was 3.4 billion ASMs, down 14.0 percent from February
2008.
For
February 2009, consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (RASM) is
estimated to have decreased between 11.5 and 12.5 percent compared to February
2008, while mainline passenger RASM is estimated to have decreased between 9.5
and 10.5 percent compared to February 2008.
For
January 2009, consolidated passenger RASM decreased 4.8 percent compared to
January 2008, while mainline passenger RASM decreased 3.4 percent compared to
January 2008.
Continental’s
regional operations had a February load factor of 69.3 percent, 6.5 points below the February
2008 regional load factor. Regional RPMs were 635.1 million and regional ASMs
were 917.0 million in February 2009, resulting in a traffic decrease of 13.5
percent and a capacity decrease of 5.4 percent versus February
2008.
Continental
Airlines is the world’s fifth largest airline. Continental, together
with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 2,800 daily
departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 135 domestic and
132 international destinations. More than 650 additional points are served via
alliance partners. With more than 42,000 employees, Continental has
hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and together with
Continental Express, 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 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.
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PRELIMINARY
TRAFFIC RESULTS
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FEBRUARY
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2009
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2008
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Change
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REVENUE
PASSENGER MILES (000)
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Domestic
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2,673,822
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3,227,535
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-17.2
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Percent
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International
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2,568,348
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2,806,592
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-8.5
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Percent
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Transatlantic
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1,158,555
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1,290,928
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-10.3
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Percent
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Latin
America
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931,769
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977,001
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-4.6
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Percent
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Pacific
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478,024
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538,663
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-11.3
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Percent
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Mainline
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5,242,170
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6,034,127
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-13.1
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Percent
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Regional
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635,057
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734,042
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-13.5
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Percent
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Consolidated
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5,877,227
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6,768,169
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-13.2
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Percent
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AVAILABLE
SEAT MILES (000)
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Domestic
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3,439,946
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4,000,174
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-14.0
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Percent
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International
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3,754,257
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3,936,249
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-4.6
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Percent
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Transatlantic
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1,855,310
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1,945,939
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-4.7
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Percent
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Latin
America
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1,216,195
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1,220,033
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-0.3
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Percent
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Pacific
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682,752
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770,277
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-11.4
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Percent
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Mainline
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7,194,203
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7,936,423
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-9.4
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Percent
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Regional
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917,000
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968,983
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-5.4
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Percent
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Consolidated
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8,111,203
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8,905,406
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-8.9
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Percent
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PASSENGER
LOAD FACTOR
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Domestic
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77.7
Percent
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80.7
Percent
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-3.0
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Points
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International
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68.4
Percent
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71.3
Percent
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-2.9
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Points
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Transatlantic
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62.4
Percent
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66.3
Percent
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-3.9
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Points
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Latin
America
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76.6
Percent
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80.1
Percent
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-3.5
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Points
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Pacific
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70.0
Percent
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69.9
Percent
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0.1
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Points
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Mainline
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72.9
Percent
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76.0
Percent
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-3.1
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Points
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Regional
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69.3
Percent
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75.8
Percent
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-6.5
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Points
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Consolidated
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72.5
Percent
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76.0
Percent
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-3.5
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Points
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ONBOARD
PASSENGERS
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Mainline
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3,182,980
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3,763,301
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-15.4
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Percent
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Regional
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1,163,130
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1,324,155
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-12.2
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Percent
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Consolidated
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4,346,110
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5,087,456
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-14.6
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Percent
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CARGO
REVENUE TON MILES (000)
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Total
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63,763
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82,228
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-22.5
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Percent
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PRELIMINARY
TRAFFIC RESULTS
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YEAR-TO-DATE
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2009
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2008
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Change
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REVENUE
PASSENGER MILES (000)
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Domestic
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5,519,051
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6,558,037
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-15.8
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Percent
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International
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5,502,733
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5,952,330
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-7.6
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Percent
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Transatlantic
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2,474,820
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2,760,761
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-10.4
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Percent
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Latin
America
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1,991,986
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2,013,254
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-1.1
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Percent
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Pacific
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1,035,927
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1,178,315
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-12.1
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Percent
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Mainline
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11,021,784
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12,510,367
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-11.9
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Percent
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Regional
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1,283,853
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1,477,963
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-13.1
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Percent
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Consolidated
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12,305,637
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13,988,330
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-12.0
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Percent
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AVAILABLE
SEAT MILES (000)
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Domestic
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7,155,672
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8,183,145
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-12.6
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Percent
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International
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7,848,764
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8,123,365
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-3.4
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Percent
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Transatlantic
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3,888,795
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4,004,923
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-2.9
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Percent
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Latin
America
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2,543,282
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2,494,093
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2.0
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Percent
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Pacific
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1,416,687
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1,624,349
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-12.8
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Percent
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Mainline
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15,004,436
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16,306,510
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-8.0
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Percent
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Regional
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1,892,959
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1,994,876
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-5.1
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Percent
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Consolidated
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16,897,395
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18,301,386
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-7.7
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Percent
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PASSENGER
LOAD FACTOR
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||||||
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Domestic
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77.1
Percent
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80.1
Percent
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-3.0
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Points
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International
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70.1
Percent
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73.3
Percent
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-3.2
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Points
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Transatlantic
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63.6
Percent
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68.9
Percent
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-5.3
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Points
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Latin
America
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78.3
Percent
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80.7
Percent
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-2.4
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Points
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Pacific
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73.1
Percent
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72.5
Percent
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0.6
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Points
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Mainline
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73.5
Percent
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76.7
Percent
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-3.2
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Points
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Regional
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67.8
Percent
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74.1
Percent
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-6.3
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Points
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Consolidated
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72.8
Percent
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76.4
Percent
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-3.6
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Points
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ONBOARD
PASSENGERS
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||||||
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Mainline
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6,567,382
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7,656,605
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-14.2
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Percent
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Regional
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2,342,969
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2,663,736
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-12.0
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Percent
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Consolidated
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8,910,351
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10,320,341
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-13.7
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Percent
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CARGO
REVENUE TON MILES (000)
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||||||
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Total
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126,885
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167,816
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-24.4
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Percent
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PRELIMINARY
OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL RESULTS
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FEBRUARY
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2009
|
2008
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Change
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On-Time
Performance 1
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77.7%
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70.2%
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7.5
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Points
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Completion
Factor 2
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99.5%
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98.6%
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0.9
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Points
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January
2009 year-over-year consolidated RASM change
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(4.8)
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Percent
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January
2009 year-over-year mainline RASM change
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(3.4)
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Percent
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||||
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February
2009 estimated year-over-year consolidated RASM change
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(11.5)
- (12.5)
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Percent
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February
2009 estimated year-over-year mainline RASM change
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(9.5)
- (10.5)
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Percent
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February
2009 estimated average price per gallon of fuel, including fuel
taxes
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1.91
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Dollars
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First
Quarter 2009 estimated average price per gallon of fuel, including fuel
taxes
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1.90
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Dollars
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1
Department of Transportation Arrivals within 14 minutes
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2
Mainline Segment Completion Percentage
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###
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