Continental Airlines Reports May 2010 Operational Performance

The carrier reported a domestic mainline May load factor of 85.4 percent, 0.7 points above the May 2009 domestic mainline load factor, and an international mainline load factor of 82.9 percent, 4.9 points above May 2009. All four May load factors were records for the month.  

During May, Continental recorded a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on-time arrival rate of 82.5 percent and a mainline segment completion factor of 99.4 percent.

In May 2010, Continental flew 7.8 billion consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and 9.3 billion consolidated available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a consolidated traffic increase of 3.7 percent and a consolidated capacity increase of 0.2 percent as compared to May 2009. In May 2010, Continental flew 7.0 billion mainline RPMs and 8.3 billion mainline ASMs, resulting in a mainline traffic increase of 3.2 percent and a mainline capacity decrease of 0.3 percent as compared to May 2009. Domestic mainline traffic was 3.4 billion RPMs in May 2010, down 1.4 percent from May 2009, and domestic mainline capacity was 4.0 billion ASMs, down 2.2 percent from May 2009.

For May 2010, consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (RASM) is estimated to have increased between 23.0 and 24.0 percent compared to May 2009, while mainline RASM is estimated to have increased between 22.5 and 23.5 percent. For April 2010, consolidated passenger RASM increased 14.8 percent compared to April 2009, while mainline passenger RASM increased 12.6 percent compared to April 2009.

Continental's regional operations had a May load factor of 81.0 percent, 3.0 points above the May 2009 regional load factor. Regional RPMs were 834.2 million and regional ASMs were 1,030.3 million in May 2010, resulting in a traffic increase of 8.2 percent and a capacity increase of 4.2 percent versus May 2009.

Continental Airlines is the world's fifth largest airline. Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 2,700 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 132 domestic and 137 international destinations. Continental is a member of Star Alliance, which overall offers more than 21,050 daily flights to 1,167 airports in 181 countries through its 27 member airlines. With more than 40,000 employees, Continental has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and together with its regional partners, carries approximately 63 million passengers per year.