SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. SCHEDULE 13G (Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) (INITIAL FILING )* CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, INC. - ------------------------------ (Name of Issuer) CLASS B COMMON STOCK - --------------------------------- (Title of Class of Securities) 21079530 - ----------------------- (Cusip Number) *The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing of this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act, but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes.) [Continued on the following page(s)] Page 1 of 4 Pages CUSIP No. 21079530 Page 2 of 4 Pages - ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Name of reporting person S.S. or I.R.S. identification no. of above person Wellington Management Company, LLP 04-2683227 - ---------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Check the appropriate box if a member of a group (a)( ) (b)( ) - ---------------------------------------------------------------- 3. SEC use only - ---------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Citizenship or place of organization Massachusetts - ---------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Sole Voting Power 0 Number of ----------------------------- shares 6. Shared Voting Power beneficially owned by 601,721 each ----------------------------- Reporting 7. Sole Dispositive Power person with 0 ----------------------------- 8. Shared Dispositive Power 5,047,373 - --------------------------------------------------------------- 9. Aggregate amount beneficially owned by each reporting person 5,047,373 - ---------------------------------------------------------------- 10. Check if the aggregate amount in row (9) excludes certain shares* - ---------------------------------------------------------------- 11. Percent of class represented by amount in row 9 10.60% - ---------------------------------------------------------------- 12. Type of Reporting person IA Page 3 of 4 Pages Cusip #:21079530 SCHEDULE 13G ITEM 1(A): NAME OF ISSUER: CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, INC. 1(B): ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES: 2929 ALLEN PKWY STE 2010 HOUSTON TX 77019 ITEM 2(A): NAME OF PERSON FILING: Wellington Management Company, LLP ("WMC") ITEM 2(B): ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE: 75 State Street Boston, Massachusetts 02109 ITEM 2(C): CITIZENSHIP: See Item 4 of Cover Page ITEM 2(D): TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES: See Cover Page ITEM 2(E): CUSIP NUMBER: See Cover Page ITEM 3: TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON: See Item 12 of Cover Page ITEM 4: OWNERSHIP: (a) AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED: WMC, in its capacity as investment adviser, may be deemed the beneficial owner of 5,047,373 shares of common stock of the Issuer which are owned by numerous investment counselling clients. (b) PERCENT OF CLASS: 10.60% (c) For information on voting and dispositive power with respect to the above listed shares, see Items 5 - 8 of Cover Page. Page 4 of 4 Pages Cusip #:21079530 ITEM 5: OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS: ITEM 6: OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON: Shares as to which this Schedule is filed are owned by a variety of investment advisory clients of the person filing this Schedule, which clients receive dividends and the proceeds from the sale of such shares. No such client is known to have such interest with respect to more than five percent of the class except as follows: VANGUARD/WINDSOR FUNDS, INC. ITEM 7: IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY: WELLINGTON TRUST COMPANY, N.A. ITEM 8: IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP: Not Applicable ITEM 9: NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP: Not Applicable ITEM 10: CERTIFICATION: By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired for the purpose of and do not have the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of such securities and were not acquired in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such purpose or effect. SIGNATURE: After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Date: November 5, 1996 Signature: --//Brian P. Hillery//-- Name/Title: BRIAN P. HILLERY Regulatory Analyst