Traffic & Capacity Statistics

British Airways PLC
3 May 2002


TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS - APRIL 2002


Summary of the headline figures

Capacity in April, measured in Available Seat Kilometres, was 11.7 per cent
below April 2001. Traffic, measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres, fell 10.8
per cent. The reduction in traffic comprised a 3.4 per cent decline in premium
traffic and a 12.4 per cent fall in non-premium traffic. Passenger load factor
of 69.4 per cent was up 0.7 points on April 2001. Traffic volumes reflect the
occurrence of Easter mainly in March this year, rather than April as in 2001.
Cargo, measured in Cargo Tonne Kilometres, fell by 6.0 per cent.


Market conditions

Underlying traffic levels continue to be stable, as in previous months, with
seat factor improving slightly on April 2001.


Costs

Around 65% of group fuel costs for the year ended March 31, 2003 are currently
hedged. The total fuel bill is currently expected to be some £100 million lower
than the previous year.


Strategic developments


British Airways CitiExpress, a wholly owned subsidiary of British Airways,
unveiled the outcome of a Future Size and Shape review to ensure the
profitability of its services at airports throughout the UK. The measures are
designed to reduce further the cost base of the regional operation and deliver
annual savings of £20 million by 2004. The net result of simplifying the
business and removing complexity from the operation will mean employing the
equivalent of 500 fewer people in two years time.


British Airways launched a change to its fare structure on key routes within the
UK to give business travellers and holiday makers lower fares, greater
flexibility and more choice. From 5 April Saturday night stay and advance
purchase restrictions were scrapped on all domestic routes in and out of London,
representing savings of up to 70 per cent on some journeys. New lower year round
fares have been introduced with prices from £69 for a return to Edinburgh,
Manchester, Newcastle and Glasgow and £79 for a return to Aberdeen. A further £5
discount is available on tickets booked on ba.com.


British Airways chief executive Rod Eddington urged governments to help pull the
aviation industry out of a 'time warp' of regulation and protectionism. Mr
Eddington said the aviation markets have to be liberalised and modernised if the
industry is to have a buoyant future. Mr Eddington also called for the European
Commission to negotiate air service agreements on behalf of all member states,
starting with the all-important US agreements. The move would increase
competition and facilitate consolidation of the industry in Europe, he said.


British Airways has signed a deal with Warburg Pincus for the private equity
investor to acquire a majority shareholding in World Network Services (WNS), the
airline's India-based data management company. Under the terms of the
transaction Warburg Pincus will acquire a 70 percent stake in WNS, including
certain UK assets of Speedwing International Ltd. British Airways will retain a
30 percent shareholding in WNS.


British Airways announced that it will be the official carrier of the England
football squad until 2004 for both the World Cup and the European Championships
in Portugal.

                                      ends

May 3, 2002 048/LE/02


BRITISH AIRWAYS MONTHLY TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS

                                                Month of April
BRITISH AIRWAYS                                                Change
SCHEDULED SERVICES                         2002       2001        (%)
Passengers carried (000)
UK/Europe                                  2209       2249       -1.8
Americas                                    534        579       -7.7
Asia Pacific                                124        152      -18.4
Africa and Middle East                      205        236      -13.2
Total                                      3072       3217       -4.5
Revenue passenger km (m)
UK/Europe                                  1720       1891       -9.1
Americas                                   3618       3954       -8.5
Asia Pacific                               1267       1509      -16.1
Africa and Middle East                     1382       1598      -13.5
Total                                      7986       8953      -10.8
Available seat km (m)
UK/Europe                                  2638       2994      -11.9
Americas                                   5197       5619       -7.5
Asia Pacific                               1639       2092      -21.6
Africa and Middle East                     2030       2319      -12.5
Total                                     11503      13023      -11.7
Passenger load factor (%)
UK/Europe                                  65.2       63.2       +2.0 pts
Americas                                   69.6       70.4       -0.8 pts
Asia Pacific                               77.3       72.2       +5.1 pts
Africa and Middle East                     68.1       68.9       -0.8 pts
Total                                      69.4       68.7       +0.7 pts
Revenue tonne km (RTK) (m)
Cargo tonne km (CTK)                        333        354       -6.0
Total RTK                                  1127       1232       -8.5
Available tonne km (m)                     1765       1966      -10.2
Overall load factor (%)                    63.9       62.7       +1.2 pts



                                                              Investor Relations

     Waterside (HBA1)

     PO Box 365

     Harmondsworth

      UB7 OGB

     Tel: [phone]

     Fax: [phone]



                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange