Holding in Company

British Airways PLC
19 December 2000

To: British Airways plc

Date: 15 December 2000

                          Section 198 Notification
                          Notification of Decrease

  This Notice is given by The Capital Group Companies, Inc. on behalf of its
affiliates, including Capital Guardian Trust Company, Capital International
Limited, Capital International, Inc., and Capital Research and Management
Company, pursuant to Section 198 of the Companies Act 1985.

  The interest in the relevant share capital indicated below arises by virtue
of holdings attributed to the Companies (see Schedule A). These holdings form
part of funds managed on behalf of investment clients by the Companies.

     Share capital to which this relates:

        Ordinary Shares (1,082,024,705 shares outstanding)

     Number of shares in which the Companies have an interest:

        54,550,974

     Name(s) of registered holder(s):

        See Schedule B


British Airways plc

                                                      Number of  Percent of
                                                      Shares     Outstanding

    The Capital Group Companies, Inc. ('CG') holdings 54,550,974    5.04%

    Holdings by CG Management Companies and Funds:


*   Capital Guardian Trust Company                     5,880,713    0.54%
*   Capital International Limited                      1,475,405    0.14%
*   Capital International, Inc.                        1,994,856    0.18%
*   Capital Research and Management Company           45,200,000    4.18%

                                   Schedule A                      

 

               Schedule of holdings in British Airways plc
                            As of 15 December 2000

                          Capital Guardian Trust Company

   Registered Name                                           Local Shares

   State Street Nominees Limited                           1,035,700
   
   Bank of New York Nominees                                 133,800
   
   Chase Nominees Limited                                  2,383,913
   
   BT Globenet Nominees Ltd.                                  19,900

   Midland Bank plc                                        1,104,900

   Bankers Trust                                             305,400
   
   Barclays Bank                                             180,400

   Citibank London                                            52,000

   Nortrust Nominees                                         651,700

   Royal Bank of Scotland                                      2,100

   Citibank NA                                                10,900
    
                                                 TOTAL     5,880,713

                                   Schedule B


                           

                          Capital International Limited

   Registered Name                                           Local Shares

   State Street Nominees Limited                             338,362
   
   Bank of New York Nominees                                 351,608
   
   Chase Nominees Limited                                    249,505
   
   Bankers Trust                                             254,091

   Nortrust Nominees                                         249,839
   
   Citibank                                                   32,000
   
                                                 TOTAL     1,475,405

                                   Schedule B



                           Capital International, Inc.

   Registered Name                                           Local Shares

   State Street Nominees Limited                                788,855

   Bank of New York Nominees                                     83,704

   Chase Nominees Limited                                     1,063,799

   Deutsche Bank Mannheim                                        40,498

   Citibank NA                                                   18,000

                                                    TOTAL     1,994,856

                              Schedule B



                    Capital Research and Management Company

Registered Name                                                  Local Shares

State Street Nominees Limited                                        400,000

Chase Nominees Limited                                            44,800,000

                                                        TOTAL     45,200,000