Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL and CAL.A) today reported a systemwide load factor of 73.3 percent in April, the highest April load factor in Continental`s history and 0.1 point above the previous record set in April 1998.

In April 1999, Continental flew 4.8 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and 6.6 billion available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a traffic increase of 8.1 percent on a capacity increase of 8.0 percent versus April 1998. International traffic was 1.7 billion RPMs, up 16.4 percent from April 1998 and international capacity was 2.3 billion ASMs, up 15.9 percent from last year.

Continental Express, Continental`s wholly owned regional subsidiary, also reported its highest April load factor of 61.9 percent, up 2.2 points from last year`s record, based on 163.7 million RPMs and 264.5 million ASMs. Continental Express April traffic was up 31.4 percent and April capacity was up 26.7 percent from last year.

——-