Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) today reported an April consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 82.3 percent, 0.2 points below the April 2006 consolidated load factor.
HOUSTON, May 1 – The carrier reported a mainline load factor of 82.7 percent, 0.2 points below the April 2006 mainline load factor, and a domestic mainline load factor of 85.5 percent, 0.4 points below April 2006. The airline had a record international mainline load factor of 79.6 percent, 0.1 points above April 2006.
During the month, Continental recorded a U.S. Department of Transportation on-time arrival rate of 73.5 percent and an April mainline completion factor of 99.8 percent.
In April 2007, Continental flew 7.9 billion consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and 9.5 billion consolidated available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a traffic increase of 4.8 percent and a capacity increase of 5.0 percent as compared to April 2006. In April 2007, Continental flew 7.0 billion mainline RPMs and 8.5 billion mainline ASMs, resulting in a mainline traffic increase of 5.8 percent and a 5.9 percent increase in mainline capacity as compared to April 2006. Domestic mainline traffic was 3.8 billion RPMs in April 2007, up 5.3 percent from April 2006, and domestic mainline capacity was 4.5 billion ASMs, up 5.8 percent from April 2006.
For April 2007, consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (RASM) is estimated to be about flat compared to April 2006, while mainline passenger RASM is estimated to have increased between 0.5 and 1.5 percent compared to April 2006. These results were in line with company expectations. The company reiterated its guidance that demand remains strong and, based on its advanced booking outlook, the company expects load factors for the second quarter to keep pace with last year’s record levels. For March 2007, consolidated passenger RASM increased 5.0 percent compared to March 2006, while mainline passenger RASM increased 7.3 percent from March 2006.
April 2007 sales at continental.com increased 13 percent over April 2006.
Continental’s regional operations had an April load factor of 79.0 percent, 0.7 points below the April 2006 load factor. Regional RPMs were 846.6 million and regional ASMs were 1,071.1 million in April 2007, resulting in a traffic decrease of 2.7 percent and a capacity decrease of 1.9 percent versus April 2006.
Continental Airlines is the world’s fifth largest airline. Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 3,100 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 144 domestic and 138 international destinations. More than 400 additional points are served via SkyTeam alliance airlines. With more than 44,000 employees, Continental has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and together with Continental Express, carries approximately 67 million passengers per year. Continental consistently earns awards and critical acclaim for both its operation and its corporate culture.
In 2006, Continental Airlines won its sixth J.D. Power and Associates award since 1996. The carrier received the highest rank in customer satisfaction among network carriers in North America in the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Airline Satisfaction Index Survey(SM). For the fourth consecutive year, FORTUNE magazine named Continental the No. 1 Most Admired Global Airline on its 2007 list of Most Admired Global Companies. Continental was also named the No. 1 airline on the publication’s 2007 America’s Most Admired airline industry list. Additionally, Continental again won major awards at the OAG Airline of the Year Awards including „Best Airline Based in North America“ for the fourth year in a row, and „Best Executive/Business Class“ for the fifth consecutive year. For more company information, visit 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 2006 10-K and its other securities filings, including any amendments thereto, which identify important matters such as the consequences of the company’s significant financial losses and high leverage, the significant cost of aircraft fuel, its high labor and pension costs, service interruptions at one of its hub airports, disruptions in its computer systems, and industry conditions, including the airline pricing environment, industry capacity decisions, industry consolidation, terrorist attacks, regulatory matters, excessive taxation, 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
APRIL 2007 2006 Change
REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000)
Domestic 3,821,308 3,629,997 5.3 Percent
International 3,184,423 2,994,440 6.3 Percent
Transatlantic 1,597,423 1,418,576 12.6 Percent
Latin America 985,267 986,261 -0.1 Percent
Pacific 601,733 589,603 2.1 Percent
Mainline 7,005,731 6,624,437 5.8 Percent
Regional 846,583 869,970 -2.7 Percent
Consolidated 7,852,314 7,494,407 4.8 Percent
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000)
Domestic 4,470,334 4,226,613 5.8 Percent
International 3,999,072 3,767,750 6.1 Percent
Transatlantic 1,955,591 1,745,905 12.0 Percent
Latin America 1,232,335 1,223,322 0.7 Percent
Pacific 811,146 798,523 1.6 Percent
Mainline 8,469,406 7,994,363 5.9 Percent
Regional 1,071,051 1,091,999 -1.9 Percent
Consolidated 9,540,457 9,086,362 5.0 Percent
PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR
Domestic 85.5 Percent 85.9 Percent -0.4 Points
International 79.6 Percent 79.5 Percent 0.1 Points
Transatlantic 81.7 Percent 81.3 Percent 0.4 Points
Latin America 80.0 Percent 80.6 Percent -0.6 Points
Pacific 74.2 Percent 73.8 Percent 0.4 Points
Mainline 82.7 Percent 82.9 Percent -0.2 Points
Regional 79.0 Percent 79.7 Percent -0.7 Points
Consolidated 82.3 Percent 82.5 Percent -0.2 Points
ONBOARD PASSENGERS
Mainline 4,367,244 4,190,308 4.2 Percent
Regional 1,540,590 1,532,681 0.5 Percent
Consolidated 5,907,834 5,722,989 3.2 Percent
CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000)
Total 86,250 89,735 -3.9 Percent
PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC RESULTS
YEAR-TO-DATE 2007 2006 Change
REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000)
Domestic 14,209,313 13,598,722 4.5 Percent
International 11,886,832 11,043,808 7.6 Percent
Transatlantic 5,555,378 4,969,226 11.8 Percent
Latin America 3,887,337 3,683,597 5.5 Percent
Pacific 2,444,117 2,390,985 2.2 Percent
Mainline 26,096,145 24,642,530 5.9 Percent
Regional 3,206,229 3,187,921 0.6 Percent
Consolidated 29,302,374 27,830,451 5.3 Percent
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000)
Domestic 17,285,894 16,535,260 4.5 Percent
International 15,307,674 14,493,435 5.6 Percent
Transatlantic 7,251,846 6,591,074 10.0 Percent
Latin America 4,846,477 4,699,148 3.1 Percent
Pacific 3,209,351 3,203,213 0.2 Percent
Mainline 32,593,568 31,028,695 5.0 Percent
Regional 4,197,001 4,173,946 0.6 Percent
Consolidated 36,790,569 35,202,641 4.5 Percent
PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR
Domestic 82.2 Percent 82.2 Percent 0.0 Points
International 77.7 Percent 76.2 Percent 1.5 Points
Transatlantic 76.6 Percent 75.4 Percent 1.2 Points
Latin America 80.2 Percent 78.4 Percent 1.8 Points
Pacific 76.2 Percent 74.6 Percent 1.6 Points
Mainline 80.1 Percent 79.4 Percent 0.7 Points
Regional 76.4 Percent 76.4 Percent 0.0 Points
Consolidated 79.6 Percent 79.1 Percent 0.5 Points
ONBOARD PASSENGERS
Mainline 16,312,687 15,675,851 4.1 Percent
Regional 5,771,897 5,640,516 2.3 Percent
Consolidated 22,084,584 21,316,367 3.6 Percent
CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000)
Total 340,517 352,738 -3.5 Percent
PRELIMINARY OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL RESULTS
APRIL 2007 2006 Change
On-Time Performance (1) 73.5% 72.7% 0.8 Points
Completion Factor (2) 99.8% 99.9% (0.1) Points
March 2007 year-over-year
consolidated RASM change 5.0 Percent
March 2007 year-over-year mainline
RASM change 7.3 Percent
April 2007 estimated year-over-year
consolidated RASM change (0.5) - 0.5 Percent
April 2007 estimated year-over-year
mainline RASM change 0.5 - 1.5 Percent
April 2007 estimated average price per
gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes 1.97 Dollars
Second Quarter 2007 estimated average price
per gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes 2.00 Dollars
(1) Department of Transportation Arrivals within 14 minutes
(2) Mainline Mileage Completion Percentage
