July 2009 Traffic statistics

RNS Number : 9350W

British Airways PLC

05 August 2009

 

TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS - July 2009

Summary of the headline figures

In July 2009, passenger capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres, was 2.7 per cent below July 2008. Traffic, measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres, rose by 1.0 per cent. This resulted in a passenger load factor increase of 3.1 points versus last year, to 84.6 per cent.  Traffic comprised an 11.0 per cent decrease in premium traffic and a 3.5 per cent increase in non-premium traffic. 

Cargo, measured in Cargo Tonne Kilometres, fell by 6.8 per cent.  

Market conditions

Market conditions remain as described in the company's Interim Management Statement of July 31, 2009. Underlying volumes and seat factors stabilised during the first quarter and are expected to improve in the peak summer months. Yields will be under pressure from the year on year impact of lower fuel surcharges, exchange movements and mix. Yield uncertainty continues to make revenue forecasting difficult. Based on current fuel prices and exchange rates the full year fuel bill is expected to be between £450 million and £500 million lower than last year.  

Strategic Developments

The airline announced that it is planning to raise £680 million of liquidity through a £350 million convertible bond issue and by gaining access to bank facilities which are currently used to provide guarantees to its pension funds. This will increase liquidity to approximately £2 billion.

Pilots represented by the British Airline Pilots' Association (BALPA) voted 94 per cent in favour of a package of measures that will save the company £26 million per annum.

British Airways is moving its flights to Sydney, Singapore and Bangkok from Heathrow Terminal 4 to Terminal 3 on October 29, 2009 with Qantas moving into Terminal 3 on the same day. This will help to ensure smoother connections for customers from our oneworld alliance partners who will all be based in Terminal 3 from that date. 

The airline has launched 'Face to Face', a long term campaign to boost economic growth in the United States by offering 1000 American business people the opportunity to travel overseas on BA flights to conduct face-to-face meetings with their business partners. This is the US version of the Backing Britain campaign that the airline launched earlier this year.

British Airways' Ashes promotion saw 425 flights to Sydney, costing £215 each, sell out in six minutes. The price was based on the number of runs Australia scored in the first innings of the second npower test with the number of seats based on England's first innings score.

August 5, 2009

BRITISH AIRWAYS SCHEDULED SERVICES
					Financial year to date
	Month of July				April to July
			Change				Change
	2009	2008	(%)		2009	2008	(%)
Passengers carried (000)
UK/Europe	1,992	2,056	-3.1		7,232	7,531	-4.0
Americas	748	727	+2.9		2,726	2,729	-0.1
Asia Pacific	151	170	-11.4		551	641	-14.1
Africa and Middle East	318	294	+8.1		1,147	1,128	+1.6
Total	3,210	3,248	-1.2		11,656	12,029	-3.1
Revenue passenger km (m)
UK/Europe	2,124	2,162	-1.8		7,645	7,817	-2.2
Americas	5,085	4,898	+3.8		18,475	18,391	+0.5
Asia Pacific	1,578	1,761	-10.4		5,723	6,529	-12.3
Africa and Middle East	2,055	1,909	+7.6		7,444	7,377	+0.9
Total	10,842	10,731	+1.0		39,287	40,114	-2.1
Available seat km (m)
UK/Europe	2,635	2,759	-4.5		10,168	10,581	-3.9
Americas	5,815	5,969	-2.6		22,363	22,846	-2.1
Asia Pacific	1,779	2,013	-11.6		6,876	7,908	-13.1
Africa and Middle East	2,587	2,432	+6.4		10,055	9,670	+4.0
Total	12,816	13,172	-2.7		49,461	51,004	-3.0
Passenger load factor (%)
UK/Europe	80.6	78.4	+2.2	pts	75.2	73.9	+1.3	pts
Americas	87.5	82.1	+5.4	pts	82.6	80.5	+2.1	pts
Asia Pacific	88.7	87.5	+1.2	pts	83.2	82.6	+0.6	pts
Africa and Middle East	79.4	78.5	+0.9	pts	74.0	76.3	-2.3	pts
Total	84.6	81.5	+3.1	pts	79.4	78.6	+0.8	pts
Revenue tonne km (RTK) (m)
Cargo tonne km (CTK)	380	408	-6.8		1,474	1,644	-10.3
Total RTK	1,464	1,479	-1.0		5,393	5,632	-4.2
Available tonne km (m)	1,903	1,968	-3.3		7,378	7,661	-3.7
Overall load factor (%)	76.9	75.1	+1.8	pts	73.1	73.5	-0.4	pts

Certain information included in these statements 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 Business Plan programs, 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 itemize 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. Fuller information on some factors which could result in material difference to the results is available in the Company's Annual Report for the year ended March 31, 2009, which is available on www.bashareholders.com.

Investor Relations,  Waterside (HAA3), PO Box 365, Harmondsworth, UB7 OGB: Tel: [phone]

 

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