Traffic and capacity stats

British Airways PLC
03 September 2003



TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS - August 2003


Summary of the headline figures

In August 2003, overall load factor increased 0.1 points to 69.6 per cent.
Passenger capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres, was 3.6 per cent
above August 2002 and traffic, measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres, was
higher by 4.8 per cent. This resulted in a passenger load factor up 0.9 points
versus last year, to 77.4 per cent.  The increase in traffic comprised a 1.1 per
cent increase in premium traffic and a 5.3 per cent increase in non-premium
traffic.  The statistics are distorted by the power outage in Canada and the
East Coast of the United States.  Cargo, measured in Cargo Tonne Kilometres,
fell by 0.3 per cent.


Market conditions

Overall market conditions are broadly unchanged with traffic volumes remaining
very sensitive to yield.  Premium volumes have stabilised, but are however still
significantly below levels seen previously.


Strategic Developments

British Airways announced further steps to reduce its distribution costs in
order to improve profitability.  From December 1, 2003, the airline will
introduce a commission based payment scheme of 1 per cent for UK travel agents
who make British Airways' bookings.  This replaces sector payments, which were
introduced in April 2001.

The airline announced its first set of codeshare flights with oneworld partner
American Airlines that  will ultimately add more than 100 new destinations to
its network.  The codeshare routes, on destinations beyond British Airways' 18
US gateway cities and American Airlines' UK gateways, will be introduced in
phases.  The first cities are Raleigh Durham, Nashville, Cincinnati,
Indianapolis, Minneapolis St Paul, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Panama City and San
Antonio, bookable now for travel from September 17.

Speedwing International Limited, a subsidiary of British Airways Plc, disposed
of its trading division Speedwing Mobile Communications to AirRadio Limited - a
company forming part of the Spice Holdings Plc Group. The consideration for the
sale of the business and assets is £4.6 million.

British Airways was given permission to start flights to Basra in Iraq. The
airline plans to fly twice a week, via Kuwait, using a Boeing 777 aircraft, once
safety and security clearances have been finalised.


September 3, 2003




                            BRITISH AIRWAYS MONTHLY TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS

                                 Month of August                          Financial year to date
                                                                           April through August
BRITISH AIRWAYS GROUP                                  Change                                        Change
SCHEDULED SERVICES          2003               2002       (%)        2003                    2002       (%)

Passengers carried (000)
UK/Europe                   2234               2240      -0.3       11452                   11406      +0.4
Americas                     649                614      +5.8        3113                    2918      +6.7
Asia Pacific                 135                135      -0.5         534                     651     -18.1
Africa and Middle East       250                232      +8.1        1092                    1027      +6.4
Total                       3268               3221      +1.5       16191                   16002      +1.2

Revenue passenger km (m)
UK/Europe                   1990               1882      +5.7        9649                    9213      +4.7
Americas                    4314               4130      +4.5       20805                   19649      +5.9
Asia Pacific                1415               1395      +1.5        5723                    6644     -13.9
Africa and Middle East      1640               1527      +7.4        7302                    6807      +7.3
Total                       9359               8933      +4.8       43479                   42313      +2.8

Available seat km (m)
UK/Europe                   2685               2526      +6.3       13708                   13033      +5.2
Americas                    5503               5359      +2.7       26554                   26414      +0.5
Asia Pacific                1834               1779      +3.1        8527                    8642      -1.3
Africa and Middle East      2068               2012      +2.8       10066                    9958      +1.1
Total                      12090              11675      +3.6       58856                   58048      +1.4

Passenger load factor (%)
UK/Europe                   74.1               74.5      -0.4 pts    70.4                    70.7      -0.3 pts
Americas                    78.4               77.1      +1.3 pts    78.3                    74.4      +3.9 pts
Asia Pacific                77.2               78.4      -1.2 pts    67.1                    76.9      -9.8 pts
Africa and Middle East      79.3               75.9      +3.4 pts    72.5                    68.4      +4.1 pts
Total                       77.4               76.5      +0.9 pts    73.9                    72.9      +1.0 pts

Revenue tonne km (RTK) (m)
Cargo tonne km (CTK)         341                342      -0.3        1723                    1745      -1.3
Total RTK                   1282               1242      +3.3        6068                    5974      +1.6
Available tonne km (m)      1842               1787      +3.1        8983                    8913      +0.8

Overall load factor (%)     69.6               69.5      +0.1 pts    67.6                    67.0      +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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