Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL and CAL.A) today reported a systemwide load factor of 76.9 percent in March, the highest March load factor in company history and 1.2 points above the previous record set last year.

In March 2000, Continental flew 5.7 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and 7.4 billion available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a traffic increase of 10.8 percent on a capacity increase of 9.1 percent versus March 1999. International traffic was 2.2 billion RPMs, up 21.8 percent from March 1999 and international capacity was 2.8 billion ASMs, up 18.1 percent from last year.

Continental Express, Continental`s wholly owned regional subsidiary, reported its highest March load factor ever of 63.3 percent, 2.5 points above last March`s record. Continental Express flew 242.0 million RPMs and 382.4 million ASMs in March, resulting in a traffic increase of 53.2 percent and a capacity increase of 47.1 percent versus last year.

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