Continental February load factor 77.7pc, increases 5.2pc

CONTINENTAL Airlines reported a February consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 77.7 per cent, up 5.2 points year on year with a mainline load factor of 78.1 per cent, up 5.2.

Both February load factors were records for the month. The carrier reported a domestic mainline February load factor of 80.6 per cent, 2.9 points above the February year previous domestic mainline load factor, and a record international mainline load factor of 75.9 per cent, up 7.5 points year on year.

During February, Continental recorded a US Department of Transportation (DOT) on-time arrival rate of 75 per cent and a mainline segment completion factor of 95.4 per cent. Continental's operational results were adversely impacted by severe winter weather, particularly at its New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Continental flew 6.1 billion consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and 7.8 billion consolidated available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a consolidated traffic increase of 3.3 per cent and a capacity decrease of 3.8 per cent year on year.

In February 2010, Continental flew 5.4 billion mainline RPMs and 6.9 billion mainline ASMs, resulting in a mainline traffic increase of 3.2 per cent and a mainline capacity decrease of 3.7 per cent as compared to February 2009. Domestic mainline traffic was 2.7 billion RPMs in February 2010, down 0.5 per cent from February 2009, and domestic mainline capacity was 3.3 billion ASMs, down 4.1 per cent from February 2009.

(Source:www.schednet.com)