Holding in Company

British Airways PLC
11 October 2001


Letter to Company Announcements Office

British Airways Plc received yesterday the attached disclosure of share 
interests pursuant to S198 of the Companies Act, being share interests under the
management of The Capital Group Companies Inc on behalf of its clients.

Letter from British Airways Plc


LETTER TO: BRITISH AIRWAYS PLC
DATED:     10 OCTOBER 2001 


Re:  Section 198 Notification 

Company Secretary:

Below is a Section 198 Notification dated 9 October 2001. 

Please note that one or more of the affiliates of The Capital Group Companies,  
Inc. have made notifications to your company pursuant to Section 198 previously.
For a description of our organization, please visit our Web site at   
www.capgroup.com.

For the purposes of this Notification an outstanding share balance of   
1,082,741,272 shares was used to calculate the percentages of holdings of the   
relevant share capital which determine the notifiable interest. We believe this 
outstanding share balance is current. 


LETTER DATED: 9 OCTOBER 2001


                          SECTION 198 NOTIFICATION  
                          Notification of Increase

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 S.A., 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 (1,082,741,272 shares outstanding)  

     Number of shares in which the Companies have an interest:
            
          114,398.040  

     Name(s) of registered holder(s): 

          See Schedule B


LETTER FROM: THE CAPITAL GROUP COMPANIES, INC.



As of 9 October 2001

British Airways plc 

                                                         Number of   Percent of 
                                                           Shares   Outstanding 

The Capital Group Companies. Inc, ('CG') holdings      114,398,040       10.57% 

Holdings by CG Management Companies and Funds:

- Capital Guardian Trust Company                        22,977,200        2.12% 

- Capital International Limited                          5,702,700        0.53% 

- Capital International S.A.                             1,960,800        0.18% 

- Capital International, Inc.                               19,000        0.00% 

- Capital Research and Management Company               83,738,340        7.73% 

- EuroPacific Growth Fund                               35,045,740        3.24%


                                    Schedule A




                   Schedule of holdings in British Airways plc  
                             As of 9 October 2001 
      
                        Capital Guardian Trust Company

Registered Name                                      Local Shares 

State Street Nominees Limited                           3,695,500 

Bank of New York Nominees                                 363,800 

Chase Nominees Limited                                  9,874,200 
      
BT Globenet Nominees Ltd.                                 152,000 

Midland Bank plc                                        4,060,000 

Bankers Trust                                           1,636,500 

Barclays Bank                                             874,000 

Nortrust Nominees                                       2,214,200

Citibank NA                                                41,000

Mellon Nominees (UK) Limited                               66,000

TOTAL                                                  22,977,200



                       Capital International Limited

Registered Name                                      Local Shares 

State Street Nominees Limited                             439,500 

Bank of New York Nominees                                 617,800 

Chase Nominees Limited                                  1,673,200 

Midland Bank plc                                           41,000 

Bankers Trust                                           1,114,200 

Barclays Bank                                              82,000 

Citibank London                                            70,000 

Morgan Guaranty                                           125,000

Nortrust Nominees                                         829,100               

Royal Bank of Scotland                                     48,000 

MSS Nominees Limited                                      160,000 

State Street Bank & Trust Co.                              70,000 

Lloyds Bank                                                57,000 

Vidacos Nominees Ltd.                                      28,000 

Citibank NA                                                70,000 

Deutsche Bank AG                                          112,900 

HSBC Bank plc                                              68,000 

KAS UK                                                     29,000 

Bank One London                                            68,000 

                                            TOTAL       5,702,700 

                                 Schedule B 


    
                        Capital International S.A.

Registered Name                                      Local Shares 

State Street Nominees Limited                              41,000 

Chase Nominees Limited                                    849,000 

Midland Bank plc                                          307,600 

Barclays Bank                                             120,700 

Nortrust Nominees                                          33,000 

Morgan Stanley                                             36,500 

Royal Bank of Scotland                                    152,000 

National Westminster Bank                                 137,000 

Lloyds Bank                                                17,000 

RBSTB Nominees Ltd.                                        30,000 

Deutsche Bank AG                                          117,000 

HSBC Bank plc                                             120,000 

                                             TOTAL      1,960,800 


                               Schedule B     



                      Capital International, Inc. 

Registered Name                                      Local Shares         

Bank of New York Nominees                                  19,000 

                                              TOTAL        19,000 
                                
                                Schedule B



                   Capital Research and Management Company

Registered Name                                      Local Shares         

State Street Nominees Limited                           2,775,200 

Chase Nominees Limited                                 80,799,140 

Cede & Co.                                                164,000 

                                              TOTAL    83,738,340 

                               Schedule B