April traffic statistics

British Airways PLC
04 May 2006





TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS - April 2006


Summary of the headline figures


In April 2006, passenger capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres, was
4.2 per cent above April 2005.  Traffic, measured in Revenue Passenger
Kilometres, was higher by 9.8 per cent.  This resulted in a passenger load
factor up 4 points versus last year, to 78.7 per cent.  The increase in traffic
comprised a 3.8 per cent increase in premium traffic and a 10.9 per cent
increase in non-premium traffic.  Cargo, measured in Cargo Tonne Kilometres,
rose by 1.3 per cent.   Overall load factor rose by 2.9 points to 71.6 per cent.


As highlighted last month, the timing of Easter this year has reduced premium
volumes and benefited non premium volumes in April.



Market conditions


Market conditions remain broadly unchanged as significant promotional activity
is required to maintain seat factors.


Strategic Developments



British Airways increased the fuel surcharge on its longhaul flights from Friday
April 21, 2006 as a result of further rises in the price of fuel. The longhaul
fuel surcharge on tickets sold and issued in the UK increased from £30 per
sector to £35 per sector (£70 return trip). The shorthaul fuel surcharge
remained unchanged at £8 per sector (£16 a return trip). The annual fuel bill
for 2005/2006 is expected to be some £1.6 billion. We estimated previously that
this would rise by £400 million in 2006/2007 but at these high fuel prices, we
would now expect this year's fuel bill to be £600 million higher at £2.2
billion.



The company announced a radical shake-up of its short-haul air fares with
one-way all-inclusive tickets starting at £29. All non-changeable economy
tickets have been scrapped with air travellers able to change their flights, no
matter what they have paid for the ticket, up to midnight the day before
departure. The airline increased the flexibility of its lowest priced tickets in
response to feedback from its customers who increasingly need to change their
flight bookings at short notice due to altering schedules.  The move increases
the number of changeable tickets on sale by 15 million a year.



In his first major speech on the environment, Willie Walsh, chief executive of
British Airways, said the European Commission should keep its plans for aviation
emissions trading simple and practical. He urged the Commission not to risk
delaying the extension of its carbon trading scheme to airlines by making the
arrangements too complicated.  Addressing Ireland's National Management
Conference in Co Wicklow, he said it was vital to bring the EU scheme into
operation to demonstrate the aviation industry's commitment to addressing its
impact on global warming. But he warned that the size of aviation's share of
global carbon emissions was sometimes overstated. Mr Walsh said the European
scheme should apply, initially at least, to flights within the EU only.



The company met with its trade unions to hear their joint response to the
proposal to address the £1 billion past deficit in the New Airways Pensions
Scheme (NAPS).  Further talks were agreed.



British Airways made a £500,000 donation to help rebuild 11 schools devastated
in the South Asia earthquake last autumn. The money, which was raised through
the British Airways Change for Good Programme, has been given to UNICEF as part
of the airline's continuing support of relief efforts across the region.



                                      ends



May 4, 2006                                               035/TC/06





BRITISH AIRWAYS MONTHLY TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS



                                           Month of April


BRITISH AIRWAYS GROUP                                          Change
SCHEDULED SERVICES                    2006           2005         (%)
Passengers carried (000)
UK/Europe                             1959           1923         +1.9
Americas                               670            622         +7.6
Asia Pacific                           160            140        +14.2
Africa and Middle East                 280            239        +17.1
Total                                 3068           2924         +5.0

Revenue passenger km (m)
UK/Europe                             1848           1753         +5.4
Americas                              4513           4158         +8.6
Asia Pacific                          1606           1443        +11.3
Africa and Middle East                1863           1599        +16.5
Total                                 9830           8952         +9.8

Available seat km (m)
UK/Europe                             2592           2684         -3.4
Americas                              5472           5253         +4.2
Asia Pacific                          2017           1929         +4.6
Africa and Middle East                2403           2112        +13.8
Total                                12486          11979         +4.2

Passenger load factor (%)
UK/Europe                             71.3           65.3         +6.0 pts
Americas                              82.5           79.1         +3.4 pts
Asia Pacific                          79.6           74.8         +4.8 pts
Africa and Middle East                77.5           75.7         +1.8 pts
Total                                 78.7           74.7         +4.0 pts

Revenue tonne km (RTK) (m)
Cargo tonne km (CTK)                   404            398         +1.3
Total RTK                             1380           1287         +7.3
Available tonne km (m)                1928           1873         +3.0

Overall load factor (%)               71.6           68.7         +2.9 pts



Certain statements included in this statement may be forward-looking and may
involve 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 business and financing plans, expected future revenues and
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.



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