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): September 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 September 1, 2009, Continental Airlines, Inc. issued a press release announcing its August 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 August 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.

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







 

 
 

 


EXHIBIT INDEX

99.1
Press Release for August 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 AUGUST 2009
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
HOUSTON, Sept. 1, 2009 – Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) today reported an August consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 85.8 percent, 1.9 points above the August 2008 consolidated load factor, and a mainline load factor of 86.6 percent, 1.7 points above the August 2008 mainline load factor.  The carrier reported a domestic mainline August load factor of 88.8 percent, 2.5 points above the August 2008 domestic mainline load factor, and an international mainline load factor of 84.6 percent, 1.2 points above August 2008.  All four August load factors were records for the month.
During the month, Continental recorded a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on-time arrival rate of 82.4 percent and a mainline segment completion factor of 99.8 percent.
In August 2009, Continental flew 8.8 billion consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and 10.2 billion consolidated available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a consolidated traffic decrease of 3.9 percent and a capacity decrease of 6.0 percent as compared to August 2008. In August 2009, Continental flew 7.9 billion mainline RPMs and 9.1 billion mainline ASMs, resulting in a mainline traffic decrease of 3.6 percent and a mainline capacity decrease of 5.6 percent as compared to August 2008. Domestic mainline traffic was 3.9 billion RPMs in August 2009, down 6.1 percent from August 2008, and domestic mainline capacity was 4.4 billion ASMs, down 8.7 percent from August 2008.
For August 2009, consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (RASM) is estimated to have decreased between 16.5 and 17.5 percent compared to August 2008 while mainline RASM is estimated to have decreased between 17.0 and 18.0 percent. For July 2009, consolidated passenger RASM decreased 17.4 percent compared to July 2008, while mainline passenger RASM decreased 18.3 percent compared to July 2008.
Continental’s regional operations had an August load factor of 79.2 percent, 2.8 points above the August 2008 regional load factor. Regional RPMs were 860.6 million and regional ASMs were 1,086.9 million in August 2009, resulting in a traffic decrease of 6.2 percent and a capacity decrease of 9.5 percent versus August 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 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.


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
AUGUST
2009
2008
Change
REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000)
         
 
Domestic
3,931,264
4,184,702
-6.1
 
Percent
             
 
International
3,992,022
4,037,658
-1.1
 
Percent
 
Transatlantic
2,085,149
2,224,100
-6.2
 
Percent
 
Latin America
1,165,992
1,163,184
0.2
 
Percent
 
Pacific
740,881
650,374
13.9
 
Percent
             
 
Mainline
7,923,286
8,222,360
-3.6
 
Percent
 
Regional
860,623
917,303
-6.2
 
Percent
 
Consolidated
8,783,909
9,139,663
-3.9
 
Percent
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000)
         
 
Domestic
4,428,696
4,848,977
-8.7
 
Percent
             
 
International
4,716,295
4,839,841
-2.6
 
Percent
 
Transatlantic
2,390,346
2,664,539
-10.3
 
Percent
 
Latin America
1,402,591
1,380,505
1.6
 
Percent
 
Pacific
923,358
794,797
16.2
 
Percent
             
 
Mainline
9,144,991
9,688,818
-5.6
 
Percent
 
Regional
1,086,877
1,200,890
-9.5
 
Percent
 
Consolidated
10,231,868
10,889,708
-6.0
 
Percent
PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR
         
 
Domestic
 88.8 Percent
 86.3 Percent
2.5
 
Points
             
 
International
 84.6 Percent
 83.4 Percent
1.2
 
Points
 
Transatlantic
 87.2 Percent
 83.5 Percent
3.7
 
Points
 
Latin America
 83.1 Percent
 84.3 Percent
-1.2
 
Points
 
Pacific
 80.2 Percent
 81.8 Percent
-1.6
 
Points
             
 
Mainline
 86.6 Percent
 84.9 Percent
1.7
 
Points
 
Regional
 79.2 Percent
 76.4 Percent
2.8
 
Points
 
Consolidated
 85.8 Percent
 83.9 Percent
1.9
 
Points
ONBOARD PASSENGERS
         
 
Mainline
4,350,956
4,656,022
-6.6
 
Percent
 
Regional
1,587,369
1,665,190
-4.7
 
Percent
 
Consolidated
5,938,325
6,321,212
-6.1
 
Percent
CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000)
         
 
Total
81,061
83,392
-2.8
 
Percent
             
             
             
 

 
 

 

PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC RESULTS
YEAR-TO-DATE
2009
2008
Change
REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000)
         
 
Domestic
27,348,763
30,170,036
-9.4
 
Percent
             
 
International
27,017,755
28,258,956
-4.4
 
Percent
 
Transatlantic
13,698,626
14,813,743
-7.5
 
Percent
 
Latin America
8,363,493
8,581,718
-2.5
 
Percent
 
Pacific
4,955,636
4,863,495
1.9
 
Percent
             
 
Mainline
54,366,518
58,428,992
-7.0
 
Percent
 
Regional
6,259,278
6,938,486
-9.8
 
Percent
 
Consolidated
60,625,796
65,367,478
-7.3
 
Percent
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000)
         
 
Domestic
32,187,345
35,893,969
-10.3
 
Percent
             
 
International
34,360,761
35,701,874
-3.8
 
Percent
 
Transatlantic
17,503,516
19,029,449
-8.0
 
Percent
 
Latin America
10,241,861
10,335,064
-0.9
 
Percent
 
Pacific
6,615,384
6,337,361
4.4
 
Percent
             
 
Mainline
66,548,106
71,595,843
-7.1
 
Percent
 
Regional
8,187,784
8,979,974
-8.8
 
Percent
 
Consolidated
74,735,890
80,575,817
-7.2
 
Percent
PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR
         
 
Domestic
85.0 Percent
84.1 Percent
0.9
 
Points
             
 
International
78.6 Percent
79.2 Percent
-0.6
 
Points
 
Transatlantic
78.3 Percent
77.8 Percent
0.5
 
Points
 
Latin America
81.7 Percent
83.0 Percent
-1.3
 
Points
 
Pacific
74.9 Percent
76.7 Percent
-1.8
 
Points
             
 
Mainline
81.7 Percent
81.6 Percent
0.1
 
Points
 
Regional
76.4 Percent
77.3 Percent
-0.9
 
Points
 
Consolidated
81.1 Percent
81.1 Percent
0.0
 
Point
ONBOARD PASSENGERS
         
 
Mainline
31,287,974
34,551,518
-9.4
 
Percent
 
Regional
11,581,602
12,555,206
-7.8
 
Percent
 
Consolidated
42,869,576
47,106,724
-9.0
 
Percent
CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000)
         
 
Total
580,399
691,406
-16.1
 
Percent
             
             
   
 
       


 
 

 

PRELIMINARY OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL RESULTS
AUGUST
 
2009
2008
Change
On-Time Performance 1
82.4%
73.8%
                  8.6
Points
Completion Factor 2
99.8%
99.4%
                  0.4
Points
July 2009 year-over-year consolidated RASM change
 
              (17.4)
Percent
July 2009 year-over-year mainline RASM change
 
              (18.3)
Percent
August 2009 estimated year-over-year consolidated RASM change
 (16.5) - (17.5)
Percent
August 2009 estimated year-over-year mainline RASM change
 (17.0) - (18.0)
Percent
August 2009 estimated average price per gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes
1.99
Dollars
Third Quarter 2009 estimated average price per gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes
1.99
Dollars
             
1 Department of Transportation Arrivals within 14 minutes
     
2 Mainline Segment Completion Percentage
       
             
     
###