Traffic & capacity stats

British Airways PLC
05 August 2003



TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS - July 2003


Summary of the headline figures

In July 2003, overall load factor fell 2.2 points to 67.9 per cent.  Passenger
capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres, was 3.0 per cent above July
2002 and traffic, measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres, was higher by 2.5
per cent. This resulted in a passenger load factor down 0.3 points versus last
year, to 76.4 per cent.  The increase in traffic comprised a 1.7 per cent
reduction in premium traffic and a 3.2 per cent increase in non-premium traffic.
The statistics are distorted by the unofficial strike action which occurred
during the month and has impacted both Available Seat Kilometres and Revenue
Passenger Kilometres by some 2 percentage points.  Cargo, measured in Cargo
Tonne Kilometres, fell by 7.8 per cent affected by both the strike action and
the temporary closure of the Ascentis World Cargo Centre for maintenance work.


Market conditions

Market conditions are broadly unchanged from last month, the outlook still
fragile with traffic volumes remaining very sensitive to yield.  Seat factors
are expected to continue at close to last year's levels.  We expect that revenue
in the second quarter will be lower than last year.


Strategic Developments

British Airways posted a pre-tax loss of £45 million (2002: £65 million profit)
for the first quarter to June 30, 2003.  The operating profit for the first
quarter was £40 million (2002: £158 million profit). The deterioration in
operating profit reflects the significant reduction in revenue due to continuing
economic weakness, the war in Iraq and the impact of SARS.  This was partially
offset by cost savings delivered through the airline's Future Size and Shape
recovery programme.



British Airways announced that the airline had reached agreement with staff over
the introduction of its electronic swiping in and out system and that the trades
unions concerned had agreed to remove the threat of industrial action.  The
direct cost of the unofficial industrial action will be in the range £30 million
to £40 million reflecting costs incurred and lost revenue.



British Airways announced its route schedule for the winter 2003 season. The new
schedule reflects the airline's strategy of focusing on more profitable routes.
The network changes, which start on October 26, 2003 unless specified, are:

* A new service from London Gatwick to Turin which will operate on a daily basis
until December, 2003, when a twice daily service commences.  In addition, from
April, 2004, there will be a new service from London Gatwick to Dubrovnik in
Croatia which will operate three times each week.

* A new twice daily service from Manchester to Copenhagen, operated by British
Airways CitiExpress.

* Additional frequencies from London Gatwick to the Caribbean commencing in
December 2003. Flights to Antigua will increase from seven to 10 each week and
flights to Barbados will increase from eight to 10 each week.

* Flights to Bilbao in Spain will switch from London Gatwick to London Heathrow.

* Services from London Gatwick to Bremen and Brussels will be suspended from
September 1, 2003, and the service between London Gatwick and Dusseldorf will be
suspended from October 1, 2003. The service between London Heathrow and Zagreb
in Croatia will be suspended from September 14, 2003, and the service between
London Heathrow and San Diego will be suspended from October 26, 2003.


August 5, 2003





             BRITISH AIRWAYS MONTHLY TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS


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

Passengers carried (000)
UK/Europe                   2258            2312      -2.3          9439                  9165      +3.0
Americas                     651             621      +4.7          2464                  2304      +7.0
Asia Pacific                 127             140      -9.4           399                   516     -22.6
Africa and Middle East       235             214      +9.9           842                   795      +5.8
Total                       3270            3287      -0.5         13144                 12779      +2.9

Revenue passenger km (m)
UK/Europe                   1972            1934      +2.0          7777                  7330      +6.1
Americas                    4338            4187      +3.6         16490                 15515      +6.3
Asia Pacific                1345            1435      -6.3          4310                  5250     -17.9
Africa and Middle East      1537            1408      +9.2          5662                  5280      +7.2
Total                       9191            8963      +2.5         34239                 33375      +2.6

Available seat km (m)
UK/Europe                   2655            2574      +3.2         11257                 10507      +7.1
Americas                    5468            5330      +2.6         21051                 21051      -0.0
Asia Pacific                1847            1788      +3.3          6693                  6863      -2.5
Africa and Middle East      2067            1991      +3.8          7998                  7947      +0.6
Total                      12037           11682      +3.0         46999                 46368      +1.4

Passenger load factor (%)
UK/Europe                   74.3            75.1      -0.8 pts      69.1                  69.8      -0.7 pts
Americas                    79.3            78.6      +0.7 pts      78.3                  73.7      +4.6 pts
Asia Pacific                72.8            80.3      -7.5 pts      64.4                  76.5     -12.1 pts
Africa and Middle East      74.4            70.7      +3.7 pts      70.8                  66.4      +4.4 pts
Total                       76.4            76.7      -0.3 pts      72.8                  72.0      +0.8 pts

Revenue tonne km (RTK) (m)
Cargo tonne km (CTK)         333             362      -7.8          1387                  1409      -1.6
Total RTK                   1254            1258      -0.3          4801                  4738      +1.3
Available tonne km (m)      1846            1794      +2.9          7163                  7125      +0.5

Overall load factor (%)     67.9            70.1      -2.2 pts      67.0                  66.5      +0.5 pts




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 2002.



                                                              Investor Relations
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* Comparative numbers from 1 July 2002 have been adjusted to remove the impact
of dba following its disposal on 30 June 2003




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