Continental reported Monday that  its June RASM figures came in much higher than analysts had expected.

Jamie Baker, analyst with JP Morgan, wrote this morning, “Continental reported June consolidated RASM of approximately 2%, largely driven by an approximate 4% increase at the mainline. Additionally, the company amended its May mainline RASM to +1.1%, versus initial 0 to +1% guidance. These results handily exceeded our flat consolidated and 1.5% mainline June estimates, as well as those of our competitors (we believe). CAL’s mainline result bodes well for the industry, in our view, and suggests a stronger-than-expected start to the all-important summer travel system.”

The news has sent shares of Continental soaring. As of this posting, shares are up more than 10% on the day, currently trading at around 37.54 on very heavy volume.

Ticker: (NYSE:CAL)

No, we are not on vacation — but given the lack of activity that my email bag reflects, maybe we might as well be. It seems everyone else is.

Probably just as well this is a somewhat slow week news wise, (at least in the airline sector) as things with PlaneMom continue to, well, get worse and worse. My dad and I are now rotating shifts at the nursing home and Mom is pretty much unable to communicate, except through physical touch. She can acknowledge and respond if I am holding her hand, or massaging her shoulders and her fingers, but that is about it.

I just keep hoping that her situation will end sooner than later. For her sake. For those of you who have been in this situation, I’m sure you understand.

Yesterday was spent working on the cards we are going to send to folks for her memorial service.

I know, nothing to do with airplanes. But a lot to do with life and what we all face to some extent when not ruminating over the new 787 photos, or which CEO has screwed over his employees more than anyone else, or which airline has the worst labor relations.