British Airways PLC
06 May 2003
TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS - April 2003
Summary of the headline figures
In April 2003, overall load factor rose 0.7 points to 64.6 per cent. Passenger
capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres, was 1.3 per cent below April
2002 and traffic, measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres, was lower by 2.0 per
cent. This resulted in a passenger load factor down 0.4 points versus last year,
to 69.0 per cent. The fall in traffic comprised a 26.4 per cent reduction in
premium traffic and a 2.7 per cent increase in non-premium traffic. These
numbers were impacted by the timing of Easter versus last year. Cargo, measured
in Cargo Tonne Kilometres, fell by 7.3 per cent.
Market conditions
Revenue and forward bookings continue to be impacted by global economic
weakness, SARS, and the situation in Iraq. Forward visibility on revenue and
traffic remains limited.
Strategic Developments
British Airways announced the retirement of its Concorde fleet of seven aircraft
with effect from the end of October 2003.
A U.S. Department of Transportation order tentatively gave British Airways and
American Airlines authority to codeshare on a wide number of flights beyond
their gateways in London and the United States.
British Airways launched a new direct air link from Glasgow to London City
operated by its wholly owned subsidiary, British Airways CitiExpress, using 110
seat RJ100 jet aircraft. This follows the launch of flights from London City to
Paris and Frankfurt on March 30th. There will be three return flights on
weekdays and one return service on Sundays.
British Airways resumed flights from Heathrow to Tel Aviv and Kuwait and
re-introduced direct services to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Bahrain, Jeddah and
Riyadh. It also announced plans to return to Baghdad with a thrice weekly
service, when it is safe to do so.
British Airways franchise operator, GB Airways, announced the introduction of
another two destinations Fuerteventura and Tenerife North - to its network from
the UK.
Ends
May 06, 2003 049/KG/03
BRITISH AIRWAYS MONTHLY TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS
Month of April
Change
SCHEDULED SERVICES 2003 2002 (%)
Passengers carried (000)
UK/Europe 2227 2209 +0.8
Americas 556 534 +4.1
Asia Pacific 90 124 -27.3
Africa and Middle East 185 205 -9.9
Total 3058 3072 -0.5
Revenue passenger km (m)
UK/Europe 1781 1720 +3.5
Americas 3760 3618 +3.9
Asia Pacific 987 1267 -22.1
Africa and Middle East 1303 1382 -5.7
Total 7830 7986 -2.0
Available seat km (m)
UK/Europe 2729 2638 +3.4
Americas 5048 5197 -2.9
Asia Pacific 1636 1639 -0.2
Africa and Middle East 1942 2030 -4.3
Total 11354 11503 -1.3
Passenger load factor (%)
UK/Europe 65.3 65.2 +0.1 pts
Americas 74.5 69.6 +4.9 pts
Asia Pacific 60.3 77.3 -17.0 pts
Africa and Middle East 67.1 68.1 -1.0 pts
Total 69.0 69.4 -0.4 pts
Revenue tonne km (RTK) (m)
Cargo tonne km (CTK) 308 333 -7.3
Total RTK 1087 1127 -3.6
Available tonne km (m) 1682 1765 -4.7
Overall load factor (%) 64.6 63.9 +0.7 pts
Certain information included in this statement is forward-looking and involves
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those expressed or implied by the forward looking statements.
Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, projections relating to
results of operations and financial conditions and the Company's plans and
objectives for future operations, including, without limitation, discussions of
the Company's 'Future Size and Shape' programme, expected future revenues,
financing plans and expected expenditures and divestments. All forward-looking
statements in this report are based upon information known to the Company on the
date of this report. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or
revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
It is not reasonably possible to itemise all of the many factors and specific
events that could cause the Company's forward looking statements to be incorrect
or that could otherwise have a material adverse effect on the future operations
or results of an airline operating in the global economy. Information on some
factors which could result in material difference to the results is available in
the Company's SEC filings, including, without limitation the Company's Report on
Form 20-F for the year ended March 2002.
Investor Relations
Waterside (HCB3)
PO Box 365
Harmondsworth
UB7 OGB
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8738 6947
Fax: +44( 0) 20 8738 9602
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