Fuel surcharge

British Airways PLC
09 August 2004

FUEL SURCHARGE INCREASED ON LONGHAUL FLIGHTS


British Airways will increase from Wednesday, August 11 its fuel surcharge on
longhaul flights only from £2.50 per sector to £6 per sector (£12 return trip)
on all new bookings made in the UK as a result of the continuing increase in the
price of oil.

The shorthaul fuel surcharge of £2.50 per flight remains unchanged.

John Rishton, British Airways' chief financial officer, said: 'Fuel prices have
risen by 45 per cent in the last 12 months and our fuel costs are expected to be
£225 million higher than last year.

'We anticipate that the combined fuel surcharges will contribute £70 million
towards these costs.'

British Airways has hedged 72 per cent of its fuel up to March 2005.


                                   ends

August 9, 2004                                                         070/RG/04


Notes to Editors

  • British Airways' fuel costs for the 2004/5 financial year are expected to
    be £1.14 billion. This is £75 million more than was estimated in May 2004.

  • Fuel accounts for 14.5 per cent of British Airways' total costs.

  • The outlook is for fuel prices to remain high.

  • In May 2004 British Airways had hedged 45 per cent of its fuel up to March
    2005.


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.


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange