Continental Airlines Reports First Quarter Loss

[dbaker]

Continental Airlines Reports First Quarter Loss
Carrier Profitable for Month of March, the First Profitable Month Since 9/11

HOUSTON, April 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL - news) today reported a first quarter net loss of $114 million ($1.79 diluted loss per share) excluding a previously announced special charge, which compares favorably to the First Call estimate of $1.97 loss per share. Including the special charge, Continental reported a net loss of $166 million ($2.61 diluted loss per share).

Despite reporting a loss for the full quarter, Continental recorded positive pre-tax income of $25 million in March, the carrier's first profitable month since Sept. 11.

Bling Bling -- profitable in March!
(The stock is down; did the market really expect a major airline to turn a profit this quarter?)

[dbaker]

Continental Airlines Reports First Quarter Loss
Carrier Profitable for Month of March, the First Profitable Month Since 9/11

HOUSTON, April 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL - news) today reported a first quarter net loss of $114 million ($1.79 diluted loss per share) excluding a previously announced special charge, which compares favorably to the First Call estimate of $1.97 loss per share. Including the special charge, Continental reported a net loss of $166 million ($2.61 diluted loss per share).

Despite reporting a loss for the full quarter, Continental recorded positive pre-tax income of $25 million in March, the carrier's first profitable month since Sept. 11.

Bling Bling -- profitable in March!
(The stock is down; did the market really expect a major airline to turn a profit this quarter?)