January Traffic statistics

British Airways PLC
04 February 2004




TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS - January 2004


Summary of the headline figures


In January 2004, passenger capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres, was
4.4 per cent above January 2003 and traffic, measured in Revenue Passenger
Kilometres, was higher by 3.5 per cent. This resulted in a passenger load factor
down 0.5 points versus last year, to 69.1 per cent.  The increase in traffic
comprised a 1.1 per cent increase in premium traffic and a 3.9 per cent increase
in non-premium traffic.    Cargo, measured in Cargo Tonne Kilometres, rose by
16.6 per cent.   Overall load factor rose 1 point to 64.8 per cent.



Market conditions



Security issues are having some impact on forward bookings.  Longhaul premium
volumes, however, remain above last year's levels, but shorthaul premium remains
weak.  Non premium traffic volumes remain very sensitive to yield.



Strategic Developments



British Airways set a target of £300 million for reduced staff costs in its
business plan for 2004/06.  The airline will target improvements to working
practices and seek to introduce more efficiencies to lower unit costs.



British Airways' first regional transatlantic codeshare flights with American
Airlines to and from the UK regions opened for sale.  Daily flights from
Manchester to New York and Chicago will now carry both airlines' flight codes.
The total number of codeshare destinations added to the BA network so far is 58.




The airline launched a 1000 million BA Miles give away to customers booking a
British Airways business class ticket.   The offer gives all passengers who book
a Club Europe or Club World flight and travel between now and March 27, triple
BA Miles.  Passengers have to join the British Airways Executive Club to be
eligible for the promotion.



British Airways' chief executive Rod Eddington called for closer co-operation
between governments to tackle terrorist threats.

                                      ends

February 4, 2004

                                                                     009/KG/04






BRITISH AIRWAYS MONTHLY TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS


                                               Month of January                   Financial year to date
                                                                                   April through January
BRITISH AIRWAYS GROUP                                    Change                                    Change
SCHEDULED SERVICES                    2004       2003       (%)              2004       2003          (%)
Passengers carried (000)
UK/Europe                             1564       1647      -5.0             19957      19906         +0.3
Americas                               542        521      +4.0              5983       5658         +5.8
Asia Pacific                           134        128      +4.8              1215       1318         -7.8
Africa and Middle East                 273        247     +10.7              2331       2147         +8.6
Total                                 2513       2543      -1.2             29487      29029         +1.6

Revenue passenger km (m)
UK/Europe                             1307       1313      -0.5             17093      16464         +3.8
Americas                              3638       3552      +2.4             39971      38155         +4.8
Asia Pacific                          1401       1331      +5.3             12870      13473         -4.5
Africa and Middle East                1821       1695      +7.4             15632      14512         +7.7
Total                                 8167       7892      +3.5             85565      82604         +3.6

Available seat km (m)
UK/Europe                             2405       2337      +2.9             25265      24227         +4.3
Americas                              5208       5091      +2.3             52510      51846         +1.3
Asia Pacific                          1875       1725      +8.7             17729      17353         +2.2
Africa and Middle East                2339       2180      +7.3             21161      20515         +3.1
Total                                11827      11332      +4.4            116665     113942         +2.4

Passenger load factor (%)
UK/Europe                             54.3       56.2      -1.9 pts          67.3       67.8         -0.5 pts
Americas                              69.9       69.8      +0.1 pts          76.1       73.6         +2.5 pts
Asia Pacific                          74.7       77.2      -2.5 pts          72.6       77.6         -5.0 pts
Africa and Middle East                77.8       77.8      +0.0 pts          73.9       70.7         +3.2 pts
Total                                 69.1       69.6      -0.5 pts          73.2       72.4         +0.8 pts

Revenue tonne km (RTK) (m)
Cargo tonne km (CTK)                   361        309     +16.6              3650       3525         +3.6
Total RTK                             1187       1111      +6.9             12254      11846         +3.4
Available tonne km (m)                1832       1742      +5.2             18133      17672         +2.6

Overall load factor (%)               64.8       63.8      +1.0 pts          67.7       67.1         +0.6 pts

* Comparative numbers from 1 July 2002 have been adjusted to remove the impact
of dba following its disposal on 30 June 2003

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 2003.



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