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<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;<FONT SIZE=1>As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 18, 2001.&#9;&#9;</P>
</FONT><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<B><FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="RIGHT">Registration No. 333-__________</P>
</B></FONT><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<B><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
</B><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;UNITED STATES</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION&#9;&#9;</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;Washington, D.C. 20549&#9;&#9;&#9;&#9;</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<FONT SIZE=6><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;<B>FORM S-8</P>
</B></FONT><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;REGISTRATION STATEMENT </P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;UNDER</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;<B><FONT SIZE=6>CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, INC.</P>
</B></FONT><FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
</FONT><FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;Delaware&#9;1600 Smith Street, Dept. HQSEO&#9;74-2099724</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;</FONT><FONT SIZE=1>(State or other jurisdiction</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&#9;Houston, Texas 77002&#9;</FONT><FONT SIZE=1>(I.R.S. Employer</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;of incorporation or organization)&#9;(Address of principal executive offices)&#9;Identification No.)</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;&#9;(Zip Code)</P>
</FONT><FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
</FONT><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;<B>CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, INC.</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;1997 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;PLAN</P>
</B><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;(Full title of the plan)</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
</FONT><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;Jennifer L. Vogel</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;Vice President and General Counsel</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;Continental Airlines, Inc.</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;1600 Smith Street, Dept. HQSLG</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;Houston, Texas  77002</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;</FONT><FONT SIZE=1>(Name and address of agent for service)</P>
</FONT><FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;(713) 324-5207</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;</FONT><FONT SIZE=1>(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;</P>
</FONT><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;<B>CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</P></B></FONT>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><CENTER><TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 BORDERCOLOR="#ffffff" CELLPADDING=8 WIDTH=758>
<TR><TD WIDTH="28%" VALIGN="TOP">
<FONT SIZE=2>
<B><P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
</FONT><FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="CENTER">Title of </P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">Securities to be registered</B></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="15%" VALIGN="TOP">
<B><FONT SIZE=2>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
</FONT><FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="CENTER">Amount to be</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">registered</B></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="19%" VALIGN="TOP">
<B><FONT SIZE=2>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
</FONT><FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="CENTER">Proposed maximum offering price per share(1)</B></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="19%" VALIGN="TOP">
<B><FONT SIZE=2>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
</FONT><FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="CENTER">Proposed maximum aggregate offering price(1)</B></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="19%" VALIGN="TOP">
<B><FONT SIZE=2>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
</FONT><FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="CENTER">Amount of registration </P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">fee</B></FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="28%" VALIGN="TOP">
<B><FONT SIZE=2>
</B></FONT><P><FONT SIZE=1>Class B common stock, par value $.01</P>
<P>  per share(2)</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="15%" VALIGN="TOP">
<FONT SIZE=2>
</FONT><FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">2,500,000(3)</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="19%" VALIGN="TOP">
<FONT SIZE=2>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
</FONT><FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="CENTER">$18.675</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="19%" VALIGN="TOP">
<FONT SIZE=2>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
</FONT><FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="CENTER">$46,687,500</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="19%" VALIGN="TOP">
<FONT SIZE=2>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
</FONT><FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="CENTER">$11,671.88</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER></P>

<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><FONT SIZE=2>   </FONT><FONT SIZE=1>(1)  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee which, pursuant to Rule 457(c), is based on the average of the high and low prices of the Class B common stock reported on the New York Stock Exchange on October 15, 2001.</P>
</FONT><FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">   </FONT><FONT SIZE=1>(2)  This registration statement also relates to rights to purchase shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the Registrant.  One right is attached to and trades with each share of the Registrant's Class B Common Stock.  Until the occurrence of certain events, the rights are not exercisable and will not be evidenced or transferred apart from the Registrant's Class B Common Stock.  Any value attributable to such rights is reflected in the market price of the Registrant's Class B Common Stock.</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">   (3)  This registration statement shall also include any additional shares of Class B Common Stock issuable pursuant to the antidilution provisions of the Plan.</P>
</FONT><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<B><FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
</B></FONT><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
</FONT><FONT SIZE=3><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</P>
<P>&#9;Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8, the undersigned Registrant hereby incorporates herein by reference the contents of Registration Statement No. 333-16723 relating to the Registrant's 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, provided that Item 5 thereof is hereby replaced in its entirety to read as follows:</P>

<B><P>Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.</P>
</B>
<P>Certain legal matters with respect to the Class B common stock offered hereby are being passed upon by Jennifer L. Vogel, Vice President and General Counsel of the Registrant.  Ms. Vogel, as an employee of the Registrant, is eligible to participate in the Continental Airlines, Inc. 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;</FONT><B><FONT SIZE=2>SIGNATURES</P>
</B><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<B><P>Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Houston, State of Texas, on October 16, 2001.</P>
</B><P> </P>
<P>CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, INC.</P>
<P> </P>

<P>By:<U>       /s/ Jennifer L. Vogel                                            </P>
</U><P>Jennifer L. Vogel</P>
<P>Vice President and General Counsel</P>
<P> </P>

<B><P>Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on July 16, 2001. </P>
</B><DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>

<P>&#9;<U>Signature</U>&#9;<U>Title</U>&#9;</P>

<P>________________<U>* &#9;</U>&#9;Chief Executive Officer&#9;</P>
<P>Gordon M. Bethune        &#9;&#9;  (Principal Executive Officer)</P>
<P>  and Director</P>

<P>________________<U>* &#9;</U>&#9;President and Director&#9;</P>
<P>&#9;Lawrence W. Kellner</P>

<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>________________<U>* &#9;</U>&#9;Staff Vice President and Controller&#9;</P>
<P>Chris T. Kenny&#9;&#9;  (Principal Accounting Officer)</P>

<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>________________<U>* &#9;</U>&#9;Director&#9;</P>
<P>Thomas J. Barrack, Jr.</P>

<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>________________<U>* &#9;</U>&#9;Director&#9;</P>
<P>David Bonderman</P>

<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>________________<U>*&#9;</U>&#9;Director</P>
<P>Kirbyjon H. Caldwell  &#9;&#9;</P>

<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>________________<U>* &#9;</U>&#9;Director&#9;</P>
<P>Patrick Foley</P>

<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>________________<U>* &#9;</U>&#9;Director&#9;</P>
<P>Douglas H. McCorkindale</P>

<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P></DIR>
</DIR>
</DIR>

<P>&#9;</P><DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>

<P>________________<U>* &#9;</U>&#9;Senior Vice President--Finance&#9;</P>
<P>Jeffrey J. Misner&#9;&#9;   (Principal Financial Officer)</P>

<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>________________<U>* &#9;</U>&#9;Director&#9;</P>
<P>George G.C. Parker</P>

<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>________________<U>* &#9;</U>&#9;Director&#9;</P>
<P>Richard W. Pogue</P>

<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>________________<U>* &#9;</U>&#9;Director&#9;</P><DIR>

<P>William S. Price III</P>

<P>&nbsp;</P></DIR>

<P>________________<U>* &#9;</U>&#9;Director&#9;</P><DIR>

<P>Donald L. Sturm</P>

<P>&nbsp;</P></DIR>

<P>________________<U>* &#9;</U>&#9;Director&#9;</P>
<P>Karen Hastie Williams</P>

<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>________________<U>* &#9;</U>&#9;Director&#9;</P></DIR>
</DIR>
</DIR>

<P>&#9;Charles A. Yamarone</P>

<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>*By__<U>/S/ SCOTT R. PETERSON</U>_______</P>
<P>Scott R. Peterson</P>
<P>Attorney in-Fact</P>
<P>October 16, 2001</P>

<B><U><P ALIGN="CENTER">EXHIBIT INDEX</P>

<P>&nbsp;</P>
</B></U><P>&#9;<U>Exhibit No</U>.&#9;&#9;&#9;<U>Description</P>
</U><DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<DIR>

<P>&#9;4.1&#9;Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by referenced to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 (the "2000 10-K").</P>

<P>&#9;4.1(a)&#9;Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, included as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.1 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the 2000 10-K).</P>

<P>&#9;4.2&#9;By-Laws of the Company, as amended to date (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the 2000 10-K).</P>

<P>&#9;4.3&#9;Specimen Class B Common Stock Certificate of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Form S-1 Registration Statement (No. 33-68870)).</P>

<P>&#9;4.4&#9;Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of November 15, 2000, between the Company and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.11 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 15, 2000 (the "11/00 8-K").</P>

<P>&#9;4.5&#9;Form of Right Certificate, included as Exhibit B to Exhibit 4.4 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.11 to the 11/00 8-K).</P>

<P>&#9;4.6*&#9;Continental Airlines, Inc. 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan Amended and Restated as of April 24, 2000.</P>

<P>&#9;4.7*&#9;Amendment to Continental Airlines, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan dated February 6, 2001.</P>

<P>&#9;5*&#9;Opinion of Vice President and General Counsel.</P>

<P>&#9;23.1*&#9;Consent of Ernst &amp; Young LLP</P>

<P>&#9;23.2*&#9;Consent of Vice President and General Counsel (included in Exhibit 5).</P>

<P>&#9;24*&#9;Powers of Attorney (Gordon M. Bethune, Lawrence W. Kellner, Chris T. Kenny, Thomas J. Barrack, David Bonderman, Kirbyjon H. Caldwell, Patrick Foley, Douglas H. McCorkindale, Jeffrey J. Misner, George G.C. Parker, Richard W. Pogue, William S. Price, Donald L. Sturm, Karen Hastie Williams, Charles A. Yamarone).</P>

<P>______________</P>
<P>   *Filed herewith.</P></DIR>
</DIR>
</DIR>
</DIR>
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[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "fs8-101601.htm", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 11521}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "CONTINENTAL AIRLINES INC /DE/", "cik": "0000319687", "assigned-sic": "4512", "irs-number": "742099724", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-71796", "film-number": "1761215"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1600 SMITH STREET 3303D", "street2": "DEPT HQSEO", "city": "HOUSTON", "state": "TX", "zip": "77002", "phone": "7133245000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1600 SMITH STREET 3303D", "street2": "DEPT HQSEO", "city": "HOUSTON", "state": "TX", "zip": "77002"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "PEOPLE EXPRESS AIRLINES INC", "date-changed": "19890726"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 18, 2001.
Registration No. 333-__________
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware	1600 Smith Street, Dept. HQSEO	74-2099724
(State or other jurisdiction
Houston, Texas 77002
(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)	(Address of principal executive offices)	Identification No.)
(Zip Code)
CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, INC.
1997 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE
PLAN
(Full title of the plan)
Jennifer L. Vogel
Vice President and General Counsel
Continental Airlines, Inc.
1600 Smith Street, Dept. HQSLG
Houston, Texas  77002
(Name and address of agent for service)
(713) 324-5207
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of
Securities to be registered
Amount to be
registered
Proposed maximum offering price per share(1)
Proposed maximum aggregate offering price(1)
Amount of registration
fee
Class B common stock, par value $.01
per share(2)
2,500,000(3)
$18.675
$46,687,500
$11,671.88
(1)  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee which, pursuant to Rule 457(c), is based on the average of the high and low prices of the Class B common stock reported on the New York Stock Exchange on October 15, 2001.
(2)  This registration statement also relates to rights to purchase shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the Registrant.  One right is attached to and trades with each share of the Registrant's Class B Common Stock.  Until the occurrence of certain events, the rights are not exercisable and will not be evidenced or transferred apart from the Registrant's Class B Common Stock.  Any value attributable to such rights is reflected in the market price of the Registrant's Class B Common Stock.
(3)  This registration statement shall also include any additional shares of Class B Common Stock issuable pursuant to the antidilution provisions of the Plan.
Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8, the undersigned Registrant hereby incorporates herein by reference the contents of Registration Statement No. 333-16723 relating to the Registrant's 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, provided that Item 5 thereof is hereby replaced in its entirety to read as follows:
Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Certain legal matters with respect to the Class B common stock offered hereby are being passed upon by Jennifer L. Vogel, Vice President and General Counsel of the Registrant.  Ms. Vogel, as an employee of the Registrant, is eligible to participate in the Continental Airlines, Inc. 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Houston, State of Texas, on October 16, 2001.
CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, INC.
By:
/s/ Jennifer L. Vogel
Jennifer L. Vogel
Vice President and General Counsel
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on July 16, 2001.
Signature
Title
________________
*
Chief Executive Officer
Gordon M. Bethune        		  (Principal Executive Officer)
and Director
________________
*
President and Director
Lawrence W. Kellner
________________
*
Staff Vice President and Controller
Chris T. Kenny		  (Principal Accounting Officer)
________________
*
Director
Thomas J. Barrack, Jr.
________________
*
Director
David Bonderman
________________
*
Director
Kirbyjon H. Caldwell
________________
*
Director
Patrick Foley
________________
*
Director
Douglas H. McCorkindale
________________
*
Senior Vice President--Finance
Jeffrey J. Misner		   (Principal Financial Officer)
________________
*
Director
George G.C. Parker
________________
*
Director
Richard W. Pogue
________________
*
Director
William S. Price III
________________
*
Director
Donald L. Sturm
________________
*
Director
Karen Hastie Williams
________________
*
Director
Charles A. Yamarone
*By__
/S/ SCOTT R. PETERSON
_______
Scott R. Peterson
Attorney in-Fact
October 16, 2001
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No
.
Description
4.1	Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by referenced to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 (the "2000 10-K").
4.1(a)	Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, included as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.1 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the 2000 10-K).
4.2	By-Laws of the Company, as amended to date (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the 2000 10-K).
4.3	Specimen Class B Common Stock Certificate of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Form S-1 Registration Statement (No. 33-68870)).
4.4	Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of November 15, 2000, between the Company and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.11 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 15, 2000 (the "11/00 8-K").
4.5	Form of Right Certificate, included as Exhibit B to Exhibit 4.4 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.11 to the 11/00 8-K).
4.6*	Continental Airlines, Inc. 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan Amended and Restated as of April 24, 2000.
4.7*	Amendment to Continental Airlines, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan dated February 6, 2001.
5*	Opinion of Vice President and General Counsel.
23.1*	Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
23.2*	Consent of Vice President and General Counsel (included in Exhibit 5).
24*	Powers of Attorney (Gordon M. Bethune, Lawrence W. Kellner, Chris T. Kenny, Thomas J. Barrack, David Bonderman, Kirbyjon H. Caldwell, Patrick Foley, Douglas H. McCorkindale, Jeffrey J. Misner, George G.C. Parker, Richard W. Pogue, William S. Price, Donald L. Sturm, Karen Hastie Williams, Charles A. Yamarone).
______________
*Filed herewith.