Continental’s net loss deepens to $184 million

Continental’s net loss deepens to $184 million    Houston-based Continental Airlines said Wednesday that high fuel prices and weak domestic yields led to a first-quarter net loss after special items of $184 million, a heavier deficit than the $124 million in lost in the first quarter of 2004.
   Continental’s aircraft fuel and related taxes jumped 41 percent to $470 million in the first quarter.
   Continental said its final net loss figure included a net special gain of $8 million related to the company’s defined benefit pension plan. Excluding the special items, Continental recorded a net loss of $192 million.
   Operating loss deepened to $171 million, compared to a deficit of $135 million in the same period last year. Total revenues were up 9 percent to $2.5 billion from $2.1 billion.
   One area of positive news for Continental, revenue from cargo, mail and other operations in the first quarter increased 15 percent to $239 million, from $208 million last year. Cargo ton-miles flown, a measure that reflects volume and distance traveled, rose 4 percent to 260 million.