First European on-line Portal

British Airways PLC
11 May 2000



FIRST EUROPEAN ON-LINE TRAVEL PORTAL TAKES OFF

British Airways is to join forces with ten major
airlines to create the first European, multi-airline, on-
line travel agency. The new site will offer the general
public access to the most up-to-date fare information,
including the airlines' lowest branded fares. It is
expected to attract a significant proportion of total on-
line travel sales in Europe within the next two years.

The other partners in the new venture are Air France,
Lufthansa, Alitalia, KLM, Iberia, SAS, Aer Lingus,
Austrian Airlines Group, British Midland and Finnair.

The ground-breaking site - to be named in the coming
months - will offer independent travellers the most
comprehensive and competitively priced range of flights
to, from and within Europe. They will also be able to
book hotels, car hire, insurance and other travel
services through the site.

Speaking on behalf of the member airlines, Rod
Eddington, Chief Executive of British Airways, said:
'This site will revolutionise the way European customers
arrange their travel plans. From the comfort of their
own armchair, they'll now have access in their own
language to the biggest international route network and
some of the lowest fares available, as well as a one-
stop-shop for all their travel needs.

'All our research shows that customers want to be able
to compare and buy offers from a wide range of airlines
by visiting just one site. Now they can do just that.
They will also have the reassurance that they are
dealing with established brands which they can trust to
deliver.'

The new venture, which is expected to launch towards the
end of this year, will be managed independently of the
airlines. The member airlines will remain competitors
and will not share pricing or proprietary information
with each other.

The site is expected to significantly cut the cost of
selling and distributing tickets for the member
companies.

Notes to editors below
                                                        
                                                        
Notes to Editors

-Travel is the largest on-line revenue sector in
 Europe and is forecast to grow from
 $8 billion in 1999 to $29 billion by 2003.  Source:
Forrester Research

-The on-line travel agency is part of a planned
 £100m investment by British Airways over the next two
 years in three major on-line ventures.


For more information, please contact:

British Airways          Corporate Communications 020 8738 5100
Air France               Corporate Communications 0033141 5656 00
Lufthansa                Corporate Communications 0049 69 696 2999
Alitalia                 Corporate Communications 0039 0665 62 2972
KLM                      Corporate Communications 0031 20 6491780
Iberia                   Corporate Communications 00 3491 587 7462
Aer Lingus               Corporate Communications 00 3531 886 2573
British Midland          Corporate Communications 01332 854 236
Finnair                  Corporate Communications 00 358981 84970