The FINANCIAL -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) on November 2 reported an October consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 82.5 percent, 3.5 points above the October 2008 consolidated load factor, and a mainline load factor of 83.0 percent, 3.5 points above the October 2008 mainline load factor.
The carrier reported a domestic mainline October load factor of 85.4 percent, 2.4 points above the October 2008 domestic mainline load factor, and an international mainline load factor of 80.4 percent, 4.5 points above October 2008. All four October load factors were records for the month.
During the month, Continental recorded a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on-time arrival rate of 75.1 percent and a mainline segment completion factor of 99.8 percent.
In October 2009, Continental flew 7.3 billion consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and 8.8 billion consolidated available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a consolidated traffic increase of 1.7 percent and a capacity decrease of 2.6 percent as compared to October 2008. In October 2009, Continental flew 6.5 billion mainline RPMs and 7.8 billion mainline ASMs, resulting in a mainline traffic increase of 1.9 percent and a mainline capacity decrease of 2.4 percent as compared to October 2008. Domestic mainline traffic was 3.4 billion RPMs in October 2009, up 2.3 percent from October 2008, and domestic mainline capacity was 4.0 billion ASMs, down 0.6 percent from October 2008.
For October 2009, consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (RASM) is estimated to have decreased between 14.0 and 15.0 percent compared to October 2008, while mainline RASM is estimated to have decreased between 15.0 and 16.0 percent. For September 2009, consolidated passenger RASM decreased 19.2 percent compared to September 2008, while mainline passenger RASM decreased 21.1 percent compared to September 2008.
Continental's regional operations had a record October load factor of 78.2 percent, 3.3 points above the October 2008 regional load factor. Regional RPMs were 782.0 million, and regional ASMs were 999.9 million in October 2009, resulting in a traffic decrease of 0.4 percent and a capacity decrease of 4.6 percent versus October 2008.
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