October traffic and capacity

RNS Number : 6735H

British Airways PLC

07 November 2008

 



TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS - October 2008

New format and restatement of traffic and statistics

With effect from October 2008, British Airways' traffic statistics now include data related to customers who have flown on 'frequent flyer' mileage redemption tickets. This change brings the Group into line with industry standards, and also into line with all major scheduled carriers. The historic data has also been restated on this basis, to create a like-for-like comparison. 

Summary of the headline figures

In October 2008, passenger capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres, was 0.7 per cent below October 2007. Traffic, measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres, fell by 4.4 per cent. This resulted in a passenger load factor decrease of 3.0 points versus last year, to 77.0 per cent.  Traffic comprised a 9.2 per cent decrease in premium traffic and a 3.3 per cent fall in non-premium traffic. 

Cargo, measured in Cargo Tonne Kilometres, fell by 4.2 per cent.  

Market conditions

Trading conditions are fully reflected in the interim management report published today, 7 November 2008.

Strategic Developments

The airline completed successfully the final phase of its transfer of longhaul services from Terminal 4 to Terminal 5. The terminal is working extremely well with good punctuality and baggage performance.

The airline's franchise agreement with Loganair ended. A codeshare agreement continues to be in place, enabling Loganair passengers to travel on BA flight numbers when connecting on to BA flights through Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

Atlanta flights will move to Heathrow from Gatwick starting March 29, 2009. The move to Heathrow, made possible by the Open Skies agreement signed last March, will see the Atlanta service operate from Terminal 5.

British Airways announced the start of flights to the Caribbean islands of St Kitts and Nevis this winter. Weekly flights on Saturdays from Gatwick to St Kitts start on January 10, 2009. 

The airline dropped its fuel surcharge for World Traveller and World Traveller Plus customers on October 15. The surcharge for World Traveller customers was reduced by £13 on flights of more than nine hours and £10 on flights less than nine hours. World Traveller Plus had a reduction of £6.50 on flights longer than nine hours and £5 flights shorter than nine hours.

ends

November 7, 2008                                                                                                                                                                        149/TC/08

BRITISH AIRWAYS SCHEDULED SERVICES
					Financial year to date
	Month of October				April to October
			Change				Change
	2008	2007	(%)		2008	2007	(%)
Passengers carried (000)
UK/Europe	1746	1866	-6.5		13126	13488	-2.7
Americas	647	673	-3.8		4790	4881	-1.9
Asia Pacific	162	169	-3.8		1136	1160	-2.1
Africa and Middle East	288	304	-5.1		2004	2109	-5.0
Total	2843	3011	-5.6		21056	21638	-2.7
Revenue passenger km (m)
UK/Europe	1812	1847	-1.9		13730	13498	1.7
Americas	4348	4518	-3.7		32254	32873	-1.9
Asia Pacific	1661	1732	-4.1		11593	11855	-2.2
Africa and Middle East	1875	2044	-8.3		13089	14083	-7.1
Total	9696	10141	-4.4		70666	72309	-2.3
Available seat km (m)
UK/Europe	2643	2545	3.9		18568	17630	5.3
Americas	5521	5581	-1.1		39948	39354	1.5
Asia Pacific	1982	1968	0.7		13811	13800	0.1
Africa and Middle East	2447	2586	-5.4		16996	17557	-3.2
Total	12592	12679	-0.7		89323	88341	1.1
Passenger load factor (%)
UK/Europe	68.6	72.6	-4.0	pts	73.9	76.6	-2.7	pts
Americas	78.8	80.9	-2.1	pts	80.7	83.5	-2.8	pts
Asia Pacific	83.8	88.0	-4.2	pts	83.9	85.9	-2.0	pts
Africa and Middle East	76.6	79.1	-2.5	pts	77.0	80.2	-3.2	pts
Total	77.0	80.0	-3.0	pts	79.1	81.9	-2.8	pts
Revenue tonne km (RTK) (m)
Cargo tonne km (CTK)	406	423	-4.2		2840	2813	1.0
Total RTK	1369	1438	-4.8		9875	10086	-2.1
Available tonne km (m)	1886	1950	-3.3		13395	13561	-1.2
Overall load factor (%)	72.6	73.7	-1.1	pts	73.7	74.4	-0.7	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 31 March 2008, which is available on www.bashareholders.com.

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

 

END

 

 

MSCUUGMUGUPRPPQ