CFO successor confirmed

British Airways PLC
14 May 2001



        CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER SUCCESSOR CONFIRMED

        London, Monday May 14, 2001: British Airways today announces a
        successor for Derek Stevens, the airline's Chief Financial Officer,
        who will retire from the airline this autumn.

        Derek Stevens will hand over his role to John Rishton (43) who
        currently holds the position of Financial Controller, Commercial.

        Mr Rishton sits on the Finance Committee, the Commercial Co-ordination
        Group and on the Finance Leadership Team.

        He joined British Airways in 1994 after 15 years in various Finance
        roles at Ford Motor Company, including Finance Director Ford Portugal
        and Finance Director Ford Spain.

        John Rishton will become Chief Financial Officer Designate until he
        takes up his new appointment as Chief Financial Officer on September
        1, 2001, when he will also join the Board of British Airways.

        Rod Eddington, Chief Executive, British Airways said : 'I am delighted
        with John Rishton's appointment as successor to Derek Stevens. John
        has a broad, deep understanding of British Airways and the challenges
        we face. He has the character, knowledge and expertise necessary to
        play a vital role in our continuing recovery.'

        Paying tribute to Derek Stevens, Rod Eddington said: 'Derek Stevens
        has made an outstanding contribution to British Airways over the past
        12 years. He is held in the highest regard within the company, the
        financial community and the aviation industry as a whole. We thank him
        most sincerely and he will retire with our very best wishes.'

        Notes to Editors:

 1. Mr Rishton is a qualified account CIMA
 2. His first position with British Airways was Head of Finance for the
    airline's USA operations in New York. He was subsequently Financial
    Controller Sales, then Financial Controller Operations. He started in his
    current position in 1999. Responsibilities include providing financial
    support for Sales, Marketing, Alliances, Cargo and Subsidiaries.
 3. John sits on the Boards of DBA, British Airways Regional, British Airways
    Holidays and Air Miles.
 4. He is married with three young sons
 5. Mr Derek Stevens, 62, joined the airline in 1989.
 6. He serves as Chairman of the Trustees of the British Airways Pension Scheme
    and the New Airways Pension Scheme and will continue in this role.
 7. Derek is also a director of CGNU Plc,


            This news release can be found at www.britishairways.com/press

        May 14, 2001                                   058/DV/01