Continental Airlines Reports November 2007 Operational Perfo

　　

　　HOUSTON, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL - News) today reported a November consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 80.1 percent, 0.6 points below the November 2006 consolidated load factor, and a mainline load factor of 80.4 percent, 0.7 points below the November 2006 mainline load factor. In addition, the carrier reported a domestic mainline load factor of 83.1 percent, 1.1 points below November 2006, and an international mainline load factor of 77.3 percent, 0.1 points below November 2006.

During the month, Continental recorded a U.S. Department of Transportation on-time arrival rate of 78.0 percent and a mainline segment completion factor of 99.8 percent.

In November 2007, Continental flew 7.4 billion consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and 9.2 billion consolidated available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a traffic increase of 4.6 percent and a capacity increase of 5.3 percent as compared to November 2006. In November 2007, Continental flew 6.6 billion mainline RPMs and 8.2 billion mainline ASMs, resulting in a mainline traffic increase of 5.8 percent and a mainline capacity increase of 6.8 percent as compared to November 2006. Domestic mainline traffic was 3.6 billion RPMs in November 2007, up 2.6 percent from November 2006, and domestic mainline capacity was 4.4 billion ASMs, up 4.0 percent from November 2006.

In light of the recent significant rise in the cost of jet fuel, the company has lowered it capacity growth estimate for full year 2008. The company currently expects to grow its mainline capacity 2 percent to 3 percent in 2008, down from its previous guidance of 3 percent to 4 percent. The company expects its 2008 mainline domestic capacity to be down slightly for the year.

For November 2007, consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (RASM) is estimated to have increased between 7.0 and 8.0 percent compared to November 2006, while mainline passenger RASM is estimated to have increased between 7.5 and 8.5 percent compared to November 2006. For October 2007, consolidated passenger RASM increased 6.5 percent compared to October 2006, while mainline passenger RASM increased 7.3 percent from October 2006. Continental''s regional operations had a record November load factor of 77.7 percent, 0.4 points above the November 2006 load factor. Regional RPMs were 785.0 million and regional ASMs were 1,010.0 million in November 2007, resulting in a traffic decrease of 4.6 percent and a capacity decrease of 5.1 percent versus November 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 580 additional points are served via SkyTeam alliance airlines. With more than 45,000 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.

For the fourth consecutive year, FORTUNE magazine named Continental the No. 1 World''s Most Admired Airline on its 2007 list of World''s Most Admired 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 NOVEMBER 2007 2006 Change REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000) Domestic 3,622,394 3,531,712 2.6 Percent International 2,943,357 2,673,910 10.1 Percent Transatlantic 1,518,980 1,326,422 14.5 Percent Latin America 821,060 772,127 6.3 Percent Pacific 603,317 575,361 4.9 Percent Mainline 6,565,751 6,205,622 5.8 Percent Regional 785,014 822,818 -4.6 Percent Consolidated 7,350,765 7,028,440 4.6 Percent AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000) Domestic 4,361,285 4,193,212 4.0 Percent International 3,805,619 3,454,477 10.2 Percent Transatlantic 1,975,055 1,705,811 15.8 Percent Latin America 1,028,432 982,499 4.7 Percent Pacific 802,132 766,167 4.7 Percent Mainline 8,166,904 7,647,689 6.8 Percent Regional 1,010,028 1,064,690 -5.1 Percent Consolidated 9,176,932 8,712,379 5.3 Percent PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR Domestic 83.1 Percent 84.2 Percent -1.1 Points International 77.3 Percent 77.4 Percent -0.1 Points Transatlantic 76.9 Percent 77.8 Percent -0.9 Points Latin America 79.8 Percent 78.6 Percent 1.2 Points Pacific 75.2 Percent 75.1 Percent 0.1 Points Mainline 80.4 Percent 81.1 Percent -0.7 Points Regional 77.7 Percent 77.3 Percent 0.4 Points Consolidated 80.1 Percent 80.7 Percent -0.6 Points ONBOARD PASSENGERS Mainline 4,049,188 3,956,002 2.4 Percent Regional 1,453,061 1,487,158 -2.3 Percent Consolidated 5,502,249 5,443,160 1.1 Percent CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000) Total 93,086 91,525 1.7 Percent PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC RESULTS YEAR-TO-DATE 2007 2006 Change REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000) Domestic 41,663,896 39,572,704 5.3 Percent International 35,814,161 32,999,298 8.5 Percent Transatlantic 18,593,411 16,460,823 13.0 Percent Latin America 10,198,420 9,702,863 5.1 Percent Pacific 7,022,330 6,835,612 2.7 Percent Mainline 77,478,057 72,572,002 6.8 Percent Regional 9,063,304 9,460,010 -4.2 Percent Consolidated 86,541,361 82,032,012 5.5 Percent AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000) Domestic 49,553,311 47,225,358 4.9 Percent International 44,922,409 42,156,314 6.6 Percent Transatlantic 23,328,808 20,894,638 11.6 Percent Latin America 12,602,633 12,347,765 2.1 Percent Pacific 8,990,968 8,913,911 0.9 Percent Mainline 94,475,720 89,381,672 5.7 Percent Regional 11,573,181 12,128,572 -4.6 Percent Consolidated 106,048,901 101,510,244 4.5 Percent PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR Domestic 84.1 Percent 83.8 Percent 0.3 Points International 79.7 Percent 78.3 Percent 1.4 Points Transatlantic 79.7 Percent 78.8 Percent 0.9 Points Latin America 80.9 Percent 78.6 Percent 2.3 Points Pacific 78.1 Percent 76.7 Percent 1.4 Points Mainline 82.0 Percent 81.2 Percent 0.8 Points Regional 78.3 Percent 78.0 Percent 0.3 Points Consolidated 81.6 Percent 80.8 Percent 0.8 Points ONBOARD PASSENGERS Mainline 46,814,413 44,655,652 4.8 Percent Regional 16,538,134 16,810,384 -1.6 Percent Consolidated 63,352,547 61,466,036 3.1 Percent CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000) Total 945,723 982,092 -3.7 Percent PRELIMINARY OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL RESULTS NOVEMBER 2007 2006 Change On-Time Performance (1) 78.0% 76.4% 1.6 Points Completion Factor (2) 99.8% 99.7% 0.1 Points October 2007 year-over-year consolidated RASM change 6.5 Percent October 2007 year-over-year mainline RASM change 7.3 Percent November 2007 estimated year-over-year consolidated RASM change 7.0 - 8.0 Percent November 2007 estimated year-over-year mainline RASM change 7.5 - 8.5 Percent November 2007 estimated average price per gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes 2.51 Dollars Fourth Quarter 2007 estimated average price per gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes 2.46 Dollars (1) Department of Transportation Arrivals within 14 minutes (2) Mainline Segment Completion Percentage

Source: Continental Airlines