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Continental Airlines Reports the Highest September Load Factor In Company History

HOUSTON, October 2, 1998 -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAI.B and CAI.A) today reported a systemwide load factor of 72.7 percent in September, the highest September factor in Continental's history.

In September 1998, Continental flew 4.6 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and 6.3 billion available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a traffic increase of 19.1 percent and a capacity increase of 10.9 percent versus September 1997. International Traffic was 1.6 billion RPMs, up 25.4 percent from September 1997 and international capacity was 2.2 billion ASMs, up 15.5 percent from last year, resulting in an international load factor of 74.7 percent, an increase of 5.9 points from September 1997.

Continental's wholly owned Continental Express subsidiary also reported its highest September load factor of 62.6 percent, up 6.4 points from last year, based on 146.9 million RPMs and 234.9 million ASMs. Continental Express September traffic was up 35.3 percent and September capacity was up 21.6 percent from last year.

Preliminary Traffic Results
September                 1998              1997              Change
Revenue Passenger Miles (000)
Domestic              2,955,116         2,549,508         15.9 Percent
International         1,611,700         1,285,360         25.4 Percent
Total Jet             4,566,816         3,834,868         19.1 Percent
Cont'l. Express         146,921           108,618         35.3 Percent
Available Seat Miles (000)
Domestic              4,122,295         3,795,975          8.6 Percent
International         2,156,642         1,867,111         15.5 Percent
Total Jet             6,278,937         5,663,086         10.9 Percent
Cont'l. Express         234,885           193,149         21.6 Percent
Passenger Load Factor
Domestic           71.7 Percent      67.2 Percent          4.5 Points
International      74.7 Percent      68.8 Percent          5.9 Points
Total Jet          72.7 Percent      67.7 Percent          5.0 Points
Cont'l. Express    62.6 Percent      56.2 Percent          6.4 Points
Cargo Revenue Ton Miles (000)
Total                    68,786            61,774         11.4 Percent
Year-To-Date                1998              1997              Change
Revenue Passenger Miles (000)
Domestic             26,874,937        24,777,947         8.5 Percent
International        13,821,431        11,072,880        24.8 Percent
Total Jet            40,696,368        35,850,827        13.5 Percent
Cont'l. Express       1,135,277           858,971        32.2 Percent
Available Seat Miles (000)
Domestic             36,867,310         34,626,883         6.5 Percent
International        18,875,987         15,377,736        22.7 Percent
Total Jet            55,743,297         50,004,619        11.5 Percent
Cont'l. Express       1,914,575          1,544,816        23.9 Percent
Passenger Load Factor
Domestic           72.9 Percent       71.6 Percent         1.3 Points
International      73.2 Percent       72.0 percent         1.2 Points
Total Jet          73.0 Percent       71.7 Percent         1.3 Points
Cont'l. Express    59.3 Percent       55.6 Percent         3.7 Points
Cargo Revenue Ton Miles (000)
Total                   622,910            517,484        20.4 Percent