easyjet no to dba decision

British Airways PLC
18 March 2003

EASYJET DECIDES NOT TO EXERCISE OPTION TO BUY DBA

British Airways today (18th March, 2003) confirmed that easyJet had notified the
airline that it will not exercise the option to buy its German subsidiary, dba
(formally Deutsche BA).

Roger Maynard, chairman of dba and British Airways' director of investments and
alliances, said: 'While this is disappointing news, these are clearly very
difficult times for the airline industry. However, we have gained significant
benefits in the last few months. easyJet has paid us £6.1 million (8.9 million
euros) for the purchase option.

'We will continue to work towards the long term future of dba and it's business
as usual for customers and staff. We have no plans to close the airline and will
continue to develop it as a no-frills carrier. Once some stability returns to
the world aviation market and the German economy recovers, we are confident that
dba, with its lower cost base and significant market share on the routes it
operates, will be a viable and profitable force in the German market whether as
part of British Airways or in partnership with others.

'Now that easyJet will not be buying dba we are free to pursue any approaches
being made by other interested parties'.

                                      ends

March 18, 2003 028/KG/03



Notes to Editors:

EasyJet and British Airways signed a heads of terms agreement in May 2002. Under
that agreement easyJet had an option to acquire dba at any time up to April
2003, extendable by easyJet to 3 August 2003.

During the option period, easyJet committed to second three managers to dba,
contribute 5 million Euro (£3.4 million) for capital expenditure to assist dba's
transition towards a no-frills airline model and pay an additional 600,000 Euro
(£410,000) per month to dba.

dba was founded in 1992. It operates 130 flights per day within the German
domestic market and will shortly start flying to Nice from Berlin and Stuttgart
and to Malaga from Munich. The airline has 16 737-300 aircraft and employs 800
staff.




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