September traffic stats

British Airways PLC
05 October 2005

TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS - September 2005

Summary of the headline figures



In September 2005, passenger capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres,
was 5.5 per cent above September 2004.  Traffic, measured in Revenue Passenger
Kilometres, was higher by 7.8 per cent.  This resulted in a passenger load
factor up 1.7 points versus last year, to 79.6 per cent.  The increase in
traffic comprised an 11.6 per cent increase in premium traffic and a 7.2 per
cent increase in non-premium traffic.  Cargo, measured in Cargo Tonne
Kilometres, rose by 0.5 per cent.  Overall load factor fell by 0.2 points at
72.2 per cent.



For the June to September quarter, ASKs rose by 2.2 per cent, with RPKs rising
by 3.7 per cent.  This resulted in an increase in passenger load factor of 1.1
points, to 79.6 per cent.  This comprised a 5 per cent increase in premium
traffic and a 3.5 per cent increase in non-premium traffic.  CTKs fell by 4.2
per cent.





Market conditions

Market conditions remain broadly unchanged.





Strategic Developments



Gate Gourmet and the Transport and General Workers Union signed an agreement
that should bring an end to the labour dispute at the catering company.  A full
catering service has been restored on all long haul departures.



British Airways increased its fuel surcharge on longhaul flights from £24 to £30
per sector (£60 return trip) from September 12, 2005. The shorthaul fuel
surcharge remained unchanged at £8 per sector (£16 return trip).



The airline announced a number of new appointments this month.  Keith Williams
will succeed John Rishton as chief financial officer on January 1, 2006.  As the
airline's group treasurer and head of taxation, Keith was responsible for
managing the reduction of the airline's debt and financing following the 9/11
terrorist attacks in the United States.  Mr Chumpol NaLamlieng will join the
board as a non-executive director on November 1, 2005 and Captain Tim Steeds
will become director of safety and security on October 1, 2005.  He succeeds
Geoff Want whose promotion to director of ground operations was announced last
month.



The airline launched a new scheme, backed by the UK government, where its
customers can volunteer to help to offset the carbon dioxide emissions from
their flights by making a contribution to an environmental trust.



British Airways welcomed the European Union's decision to develop proposals to
include aviation in the EU emissions trading scheme. The airline believes that
emissions trading is the most environmentally effective and economically
efficient way to manage carbon dioxide emissions from aviation.



Readers of Business Traveller magazine voted British Airways the best airline in
the world. The airline won also the magazine's awards for best shorthaul
airline, best first class, best business class, best economy class and best
frequent flyer programme.





                                      ends








BRITISH AIRWAYS MONTHLY TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS


                                             Month of September                     Financial year
                                                                                April through to Sep
BRITISH AIRWAYS                                          Change                                  Change
SCHEDULED SERVICES                   2005       2004        (%)            2005        2004         (%)
Passengers carried (000)
UK/Europe                            2132       2122       +0.5           12566       12834        -2.1
Americas                              648        599       +8.1            3910        3849        +1.6
Asia Pacific                          173        146      +18.8             938         823       +14.0
Africa and Middle East                257        257       -0.1            1466        1494        -1.9
Total                                3210       3123       +2.8           18880       19001        -0.6

Revenue passenger km (m)
UK/Europe                            2005       1925       +4.1           11797       11614        +1.6
Americas                             4354       4005       +8.7           26252       25715        +2.1
Asia Pacific                         1776       1502      +18.3            9642        8466       +13.9
Africa and Middle East               1714       1702       +0.7            9805        9900        -1.0
Total                                9850       9134       +7.8           57496       55695        +3.2

Available seat km (m)
UK/Europe                            2738       2610       +4.9           16515       15914        +3.8
Americas                             5342       5072       +5.3           32193       31888        +1.0
Asia Pacific                         2169       1923      +12.8           12611       11618        +8.5
Africa and Middle East               2122       2121       +0.0           12727       13192        -3.5
Total                               12372      11726       +5.5           74047       72612        +2.0

Passenger load factor (%)
UK/Europe                            73.2       73.8       -0.6 pts        71.4        73.0        -1.6 pts
Americas                             81.5       79.0       +2.5 pts        81.5        80.6        +0.9 pts
Asia Pacific                         81.9       78.1       +3.8 pts        76.5        72.9        +3.6 pts
Africa and Middle East               80.8       80.2       +0.6 pts        77.0        75.0        +2.0 pts
Total                                79.6       77.9       +1.7 pts        77.6        76.7        +0.9 pts

Revenue tonne km (RTK) (m)
Cargo tonne km (CTK)                  414        412       +0.5            2370        2416        -1.9
Total RTK                            1397       1325       +5.4            8105        7973        +1.7
Available tonne km (m)               1934       1831       +5.7           11557       11339        +1.9

Overall load factor (%)              72.2       72.4       -0.2 pts        70.1        70.3        -0.2 pts



Certain statements included in this statement may be forward-looking and may
involve 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 and financing plans, expected future revenues and
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.



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