Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) reported a December consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 79.5 percent, 1.8 points above the December 2005 consolidated load factor.
HOUSTON – The carrier reported a mainline load factor of 79.9 percent, 1.9 points above the December 2005 mainline load factor, and a domestic mainline load factor of 81.8 percent, 2.1 points above December 2005. All three were records for the month. In addition, the airline had an international mainline load factor of 77.5 percent, 1.7 points above December 2005.
During the month, Continental recorded a U.S. Department of Transportation on-time arrival rate of 73.4 percent and a December mainline completion factor of 99.6 percent.
[GADS_NEWS]In December 2006, Continental flew 7.5 billion consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and 9.4 billion consolidated available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a traffic increase of 6.9 percent and a capacity increase of 4.4 percent as compared to December 2005. In December 2006, Continental flew 6.6 billion mainline RPMs and 8.3 billion mainline ASMs, resulting in a mainline traffic increase of 7.1 percent and a 4.6 percent increase in mainline capacity as compared to December 2005. Domestic mainline traffic was 3.7 billion RPMs in December 2006, up 5.4 percent from December 2005, and domestic mainline capacity was 4.5 billion ASMs, up 2.8 percent from December 2005.
For December 2006, consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (RASM) is estimated to have increased between 3.5 and 4.5 percent compared to December 2005, while mainline passenger RASM is estimated to have increased between 5.5 and 6.5 percent compared to December 2005. For November 2006, consolidated passenger RASM increased 3.3 percent compared to November 2005, while mainline passenger RASM increased 4.6 percent from November 2005.
Continental estimates fourth quarter consolidated RASM to have increased between 4.1 and 4.4 percent compared to the fourth quarter 2005, and fourth quarter cost per available seat mile (CASM) to be in line with its most recently provided guidance. As a result, the company expects to report a modest loss for the quarter, excluding special charges.
Continental ended the fourth quarter of 2006 with unrestricted cash and short-term investments of approximately $2.48 billion.
December 2006 sales at continental.com increased 19.0 percent over December 2005.
Continental’s regional operations had a record December load factor of 77.0 percent, 1.6 points above the December 2005 load factor. Regional RPMs were 864.7 million and regional ASMs were 1,122.5 million in December 2006, resulting in a traffic increase of 5.8 percent and a capacity increase of 3.6 percent versus December 2005.
Continental Airlines is the world’s fifth largest airline. Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 3,200 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 151 domestic and 136 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 61 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 third consecutive year, FORTUNE magazine named Continental the No. 1 Most Admired Global Airline on its 2006 list of Most Admired Global Companies. Continental was also named the No. 1 airline on the publication’s 2006 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 third year in a row, and „Best Executive/Business Class“ for the fourth 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 2005 10-K and its other securities filings, including any amendments thereto, which identify important matters such as the consequences of our significant financial losses and high leverage, terrorist attacks, domestic and international economic conditions, the significant cost of aircraft fuel, labor costs, competition, and industry conditions, including the demand for air travel, the airline pricing environment and industry capacity decisions, regulatory matters, disruptions in its computer systems, 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
DECEMBER 2006 2005 Change
REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000)
Domestic 3,692,649 3,502,067 5.4 Percent
International 2,924,105 2,678,063 9.2 Percent
Transatlantic 1,388,403 1,247,101 11.3 Percent
Latin America 932,655 834,568 11.8 Percent
Pacific 603,047 596,394 1.1 Percent
Mainline 6,616,754 6,180,130 7.1 Percent
Regional 864,673 817,187 5.8 Percent
Consolidated 7,481,427 6,997,317 6.9 Percent
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000)
Domestic 4,513,702 4,392,163 2.8 Percent
International 3,771,209 3,531,177 6.8 Percent
Transatlantic 1,760,431 1,598,923 10.1 Percent
Latin America 1,206,874 1,136,085 6.2 Percent
Pacific 803,904 796,169 1.0 Percent
Mainline 8,284,911 7,923,340 4.6 Percent
Regional 1,122,500 1,083,351 3.6 Percent
Consolidated 9,407,411 9,006,691 4.4 Percent
PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR
Domestic 81.8 Percent 79.7 Percent 2.1 Points
International 77.5 Percent 75.8 Percent 1.7 Points
Transatlantic 78.9 Percent 78.0 Percent 0.9 Points
Latin America 77.3 Percent 73.5 Percent 3.8 Points
Pacific 75.0 Percent 74.9 Percent 0.1 Points
Mainline 79.9 Percent 78.0 Percent 1.9 Points
Regional 77.0 Percent 75.4 Percent 1.6 Points
Consolidated 79.5 Percent 77.7 Percent 1.8 Points
ONBOARD PASSENGERS
Mainline 4,126,385 3,918,862 5.3 Percent
Regional 1,520,399 1,431,241 6.2 Percent
Consolidated 5,646,784 5,350,103 5.5 Percent
CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000)
Total 94,381 91,771 2.8 Percent
PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC RESULTS
YEAR-TO-DATE 2006 2005 Change
REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000)
Domestic 43,265,353 39,940,548 8.3 Percent
International 35,923,404 31,320,573 14.7 Percent
Transatlantic 17,849,226 15,505,590 15.1 Percent
Latin America 10,635,518 9,033,775 17.7 Percent
Pacific 7,438,660 6,781,208 9.7 Percent
Mainline 79,188,757 71,261,121 11.1 Percent
Regional 10,324,683 8,937,931 15.5 Percent
Consolidated 89,513,440 80,199,052 11.6 Percent
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000)
Domestic 51,739,060 49,215,120 5.1 Percent
International 45,927,523 40,430,681 13.6 Percent
Transatlantic 22,655,069 19,387,805 16.9 Percent
Latin America 13,554,639 11,997,375 13.0 Percent
Pacific 9,717,815 9,045,501 7.4 Percent
Mainline 97,666,583 89,645,801 8.9 Percent
Regional 13,251,072 11,972,886 10.7 Percent
Consolidated 110,917,655 101,618,687 9.2 Percent
PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR
Domestic 83.6 Percent 81.2 Percent 2.4 Points
International 78.2 Percent 77.5 Percent 0.7 Points
Transatlantic 78.8 Percent 80.0 Percent -1.2 Points
Latin America 78.5 Percent 75.3 Percent 3.2 Points
Pacific 76.5 Percent 75.0 Percent 1.5 Points
Mainline 81.1 Percent 79.5 Percent 1.6 Points
Regional 77.9 Percent 74.7 Percent 3.2 Points
Consolidated 80.7 Percent 78.9 Percent 1.8 Points
ONBOARD PASSENGERS
Mainline 48,782,037 44,939,634 8.6 Percent
Regional 18,330,783 16,076,042 14.0 Percent
Consolidated 67,112,820 61,015,676 10.0 Percent
CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000)
Total 1,076,472 1,020,350 5.5 Percent
PRELIMINARY OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL RESULTS
DECEMBER 2006 2005 Change
On-Time Performance (A) 73.4% 71.0% 2.4 Points
Completion Factor (B) 99.6% 99.6% --- Points
November 2006 year-over-year consolidated RASM change 3.3 Percent
November 2006 year-over-year mainline RASM change 4.6 Percent
December 2006 estimated year-over-year consolidated
RASM change 3.5-4.5 Percent
December 2006 estimated year-over-year mainline
RASM change 5.5-6.5 Percent
December 2006 estimated average price per gallon
of fuel, including fuel taxes 1.99 Dollars
Fourth Quarter 2006 estimated average price per
gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes 2.01 Dollars
(A) Department of Transportation Arrivals within 14 minutes
(B) Mainline Mileage Completion Percentage
SOURCE Continental Airlines
