SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
   Washington, D.C.  20549
   FORM 8-K
   CURRENT REPORT
   Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
   Securities Exchange Act of 1934
   Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
 November 10, 2009
   CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, INC.
 (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  Delaware
1-10323
74-2099724(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)1600 Smith Street, Dept. HQSEO, Houston, Texas
77002(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)(713) 324-2950(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
 Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8−K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
 o
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 o
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a−12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a−12)
 o
Pre−commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d−2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d−2(b))
 o
Pre−commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e−4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e−4(c))
 
  
  Item 1.01         Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
  On November 10, 2009, Continental Airlines, Inc. (the “Company”), Wilmington Trust Company, as Subordination Agent and pass through trustee under certain pass through trusts newly formed by the Company (the “Trustee”), Wells Fargo Bank Northwest, National Association, as Escrow Agent under the Escrow Agreements (as
defined below), and Wilmington Trust Company, as Paying Agent under the Escrow Agreements, entered into the Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 10, 2009 (the “Note Purchase Agreement”).  The Note Purchase Agreement provides for future issuance by the Company of equipment notes (the “Equipment Notes”) in the aggregate principal amount of $644,437,000 to finance (i) eight Boeing aircraft currently owned by the Company (collectively, the “Owned Aircraft”)
and (ii) 11 new Boeing aircraft (collectively, the “New Aircraft” and, together with the Owned Aircraft, the “Aircraft”) scheduled for delivery from January 2010 through June 2010.  Pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement, at the financing of each Aircraft, the Trustee will purchase Equipment Notes issued under a Trust Indenture and Mortgage (each, an “Indenture” and, collectively, the “Indentures”) with respect to such Aircraft to be entered into
by the Company and Wilmington Trust Company, as Mortgagee.
 
 Each Indenture contemplates the issuance of Equipment Notes in two series:  Series A, bearing interest at the rate of 7.250% per annum, and Series B, bearing interest at the rate of 9.250% per annum, in the aggregate principal amount (once all the Equipment Notes have been issued) equal to $527,625,000, in the case of Series A, and
$116,812,000, in the case of Series B.  The Equipment Notes will be purchased by the Trustee, using the proceeds from the sale of Pass Through Certificates, Series 2009-2A, and Pass Through Certificates, Series 2009-2B (collectively, the “Certificates” and each series of the Certificates, a “Class”).
 
 Pending the purchase of the Equipment Notes, the proceeds from the sale of the Certificates of each Class were placed in escrow by the Trustee pursuant to an Escrow and Paying Agent Agreement, dated as of November 10, 2009, among Wells Fargo Bank Northwest, National Association, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Goldman, Sachs & Co.,
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and the Trustee corresponding to such Class (each, an “Escrow Agreement” and, collectively, the “Escrow Agreements”).  The escrowed funds were deposited with The Bank of New York Mellon under a Deposit Agreement corresponding to each Class of Certificates.
 
 The interest on the Equipment Notes and the escrowed funds is payable semiannually on each May 10 and November 10, beginning on May 10, 2010.  The principal payments on the Equipment Notes are scheduled on May 10 and November 10 in certain years, beginning on November 10, 2010.  The final payments will be due on November
10, 2019, in the case of the Series A Equipment Notes, and May 10, 2017, in the case of the Series B Equipment Notes.  Maturity of the Equipment Notes may be accelerated upon the occurrence of certain Events of Default, including failure by the Company (in some cases after notice or the expiration of a grace period, or both) to make payments under the applicable Indenture when due or to comply with certain covenants, as well as certain bankruptcy events involving the Company.  The Equipment
  
  Notes issued with respect to each Aircraft will be secured by a lien on such Aircraft and will also be cross-collateralized by the other Aircraft financed pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement.
 
 The Certificates were registered for offer and sale pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), under the Company’s automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-158781) (the “Registration Statement”).  For a more detailed description of the agreements
and instruments entered into by the Company with respect to the Certificates, see the disclosure under the captions “Description of the Certificates”, “Description of the Deposit Agreements”, “Description of the Escrow Agreements”, “Description of the Liquidity Facilities”, “Description of the Intercreditor Agreement”, “Description of the Equipment Notes” and “Underwriting” contained in the Company’s final Prospectus Supplement,
dated October 27, 2009 (the “Prospectus Supplement”), to the Prospectus, dated April 24, 2009, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 29, 2009 pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, which disclosure is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
 
 This Current Report is also being filed for the purpose of filing as exhibits to the Registration Statement the documents listed in Item 9.01 below, which are hereby incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.
 
 
 Item 2.03. Creation of Direct Financial Obligation.
 
 See Item 1.01.
 
 
 Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
 
 (d)           Exhibits.  The Exhibit Index attached to this Current Report is hereby incorporated by reference.  The documents listed on the Exhibit Index are filed as Exhibits with reference to the Registration Statement.  The Registration Statement and the
final Prospectus Supplement, dated October 27, 2009, to the Prospectus, dated April 24, 2009, relate to the offering of the Certificates.
  
  SIGNATURE
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Continental Airlines, Inc. has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, INC.November 11, 2009
By:
/s/ Jennifer L. VogelSenior Vice President, General Counsel,Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer
 
  
  EXHIBIT INDEX
  1.1
Underwriting Agreement, dated October 27, 2009, among Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, as Underwriters, The Bank of New York Mellon, as Depositary, and Continental Airlines, Inc.
  4.1
Trust Supplement No. 2009-2A-O, dated as of November 10, 2009, between Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, and Continental Airlines, Inc. to Pass Through Trust Agreement, dated as of September 25, 1997
  4.2
Trust Supplement No. 2009-2A-S, dated as of November 10, 2009, between Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, and Continental Airlines, Inc. to Pass Through Trust Agreement, dated as of September 25, 1997
  4.3
Trust Supplement No. 2009-2B-O, dated as of November 10, 2009, between Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, and Continental Airlines, Inc. to Pass Through Trust Agreement, dated as of September 25, 1997
  4.4
Trust Supplement No. 2009-2B-S, dated as of November 10, 2009, between Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, and Continental Airlines, Inc. to Pass Through Trust Agreement, dated as of September 25, 1997
  4.5
Revolving Credit Agreement (2009-2A), dated as of November 10, 2009, between Wilmington Trust Company, as Subordination Agent, as Borrower, and Natixis S.A., acting through its New York Branch, as Liquidity Provider
  4.6
Revolving Credit Agreement (2009-2B), dated as of November 10, 2009, between Wilmington Trust Company, as Subordination Agent, as Borrower, and Natixis S.A., acting through its New York Branch, as Liquidity Provider
  4.7
Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of November 10, 2009, among Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, Natixis S.A., acting through its New York Branch, as Liquidity Provider, and Wilmington Trust Company, as Subordination Agent and Trustee
  4.8
Deposit Agreement (Class A), dated as of November 10, 2009, between Wells Fargo Bank Northwest, National Association, as Escrow Agent, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Depositary
  2
   4.9
Deposit Agreement (Class B), dated as of November 10, 2009, between Wells Fargo Bank Northwest, National Association, as Escrow Agent, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Depositary
  4.10
Escrow and Paying Agent Agreement (Class A), dated as of November 10, 2009, among Wells Fargo Bank Northwest, National Association, as Escrow Agent, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, as Underwriters, Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, and Wilmington Trust Company, as Paying Agent
  4.11
Escrow and Paying Agent Agreement (Class B), dated as of November 10, 2009, among Wells Fargo Bank Northwest, National Association, as Escrow Agent, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, as Underwriters, Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, and Wilmington Trust Company, as Paying Agent
  4.12
Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 10, 2009, among Continental Airlines, Inc., Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, as Subordination Agent, Wells Fargo Bank Northwest, National Association, as Escrow Agent, and Wilmington Trust Company, as Paying Agent
  4.13
Form of Participation Agreement (Participation Agreement between Continental Airlines, Inc. and Wilmington Trust Company, as Mortgagee, Subordination Agent and Trustee) (Exhibit B to Note Purchase Agreement)
  4.14
Form of Indenture (Trust Indenture and Mortgage between Continental Airlines, Inc. and Wilmington Trust Company, as Mortgagee) (Exhibit C to Note Purchase Agreement)
  4.15
Form of Continental Airlines Pass Through Certificate, Series 2009-2A-O (included in Exhibit 4.1)
  4.16
Form of Continental Airlines Pass Through Certificate, Series 2009-2B-O (included in Exhibit 4.3)
  23.1
Consent of Aircraft Information Services, Inc., dated October 27, 2009
  23.2
Consent of BK Associates, Inc., dated October 27, 2009
  23.3
Consent of Morten Beyer and Agnew, Inc., dated October 27, 2009