Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAI.B and CAI.A) today reported a systemwide load factor of 75.7 percent in March, the highest March load factor in Continental`s history. This year`s record was 1.1 points above the previous load factor record set in March 1997 and 2.1 points above March 1998.

In March 1999, Continental flew 5.1 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and 6.7 billion available seat miles (ASMs), resulting in a traffic increase of 12.8 percent on a capacity increase of 9.8 percent versus March 1998. International traffic was 1.8 billion RPMs, up 20.1 percent from March 1998 and international capacity was 2.4 billion ASMs, up 15.7 percent from last year.

Continental Express, Continental`s wholly owned regional subsidiary, also reported its highest March load factor of 60.8 percent, up 3.5 points from last year`s record, based on 158.0 million RPMs and 259.9 million ASMs. Continental Express March traffic was up 36.3 percent and March capacity was up 28.5 percent from last year.
——-