Traffic & capacity stats

British Airways PLC
03 October 2003



TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS - September 2003

Summary of the headline figures


In September 2003, overall load factor fell 1.6 points to 67.7 per cent.
Passenger capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres, was 3.7 per cent
above September 2002 and traffic, measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres, was
higher by 1.5 per cent.  This resulted in a passenger load factor down 1.4
points versus last year, to 75.7 per cent.  The increase in traffic comprised a
0.5 per cent decrease in premium traffic and a 2.1 per cent increase in
non-premium traffic.  Cargo, measured in Cargo Tonne Kilometres, rose by 4.2 per
cent.



For the July to September quarter, ASKs rose by 1.8 percent, with RPKs rising by
2.6 percent.  This resulted in an increase in passenger load factor of 0.6
points, to 74.2 percent.  This comprised a 0.4 per cent fall in premium traffic
and a 3.7 percent increase in non-premium traffic.  CTKs fell by 0.8 per cent.



Market conditions



Overall market conditions are largely unchanged with traffic volumes remaining
very sensitive to yield.  Premium volumes are broadly stable but still
significantly below levels seen previously.



Strategic Developments



British Airways reached agreement on the 2003 pay deal with its ground support
staff and administrative staff for a one year increase in basic pay of 3 per
cent backdated to January 2003.



British Airways and Swiss International Airlines signed a legally binding
memorandum of understanding on a commercial agreement.  British Airways and
Swiss plan joint operations between the UK and Switzerland, with codesharing on
London Heathrow Swiss routes from October 26, that will give both airlines'
customers convenient access to worldwide destinations via London and Zurich.



The Swiss frequent flyer scheme will be integrated gradually into the British
Airways' Executive Club.  In addition, British Airways will enter into a slot
exchange agreement for eight Heathrow daily slot pairs from Swiss.  Swiss will
also enter the oneworld alliance, of which British Airways is a founder member.



British Airways announced plans to resume direct flights to the Pakistan
capital, Islamabad this winter.  Flights will restart on Monday, December 1,
2003 and are available for sale.  The flights from London Heathrow will depart
on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays and from Islamabad on Tuesdays, Thursdays
and Sundays.



British Airways resumed flights from London Heathrow to Saudi Arabia.  The
decision to restart flights followed a thorough review of security in and around
Riyadh and Jeddah airports, in co-operation with the UK government's Department
for Transport and the Saudi authorities.



As part of the airline's fleet simplification programme, the last of five ATR
aircraft was returned to the lessors.  There are now no turbo prop aircraft in
the mainline fleet.



Rod Eddington, chief executive of British Airways and chairman of the
Association of European Airlines, called on the United States and the European
Commission to create a new air treaty that will link the domestic market in the
United States with the single market in the European Union.



His call came on the eve of historic talks that were the first since the
European Commission was given a mandate earlier this year to negotiate on behalf
of all European Union member states.



The airline hopes the talks will pave the way for a 'common aviation area' that
will allow airlines the same freedoms as other business sectors to conduct cross
border mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures.

3 October, 2003
                                             133/KG/2003









                           BRITISH AIRWAYS MONTHLY TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS

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

Passengers carried (000)
UK/Europe                      2123                2203    -3.6      13575                   13609    -0.2
Americas                        588                 575    +2.3       3703                    3493    +6.0
Asia Pacific                    137                 143    -4.5        671                     795   -15.6
Africa and Middle East          236                 222    +6.3       1329                    1249    +6.3
Total                          3085                3144    -1.9      19277                   19146    +0.7

Revenue passenger km (m)
UK/Europe                      1850                1822    +1.5      11500                   11036    +4.2
Americas                       3941                3882    +1.5      24750                   23530    +5.2
Asia Pacific                   1450                1469    -1.3       7172                    8113   -11.6
Africa and Middle East         1578                1498    +5.3       8880                    8305    +6.9
Total                          8818                8670    +1.7      52302                   50984    +2.6

Available seat km (m)
UK/Europe                      2554                2454    +4.1      16262                   15487    +5.0
Americas                       5278                5068    +4.1      31834                   31483    +1.1
Asia Pacific                   1776                1729    +2.7      10303                   10370    -0.6
Africa and Middle East         2047                1992    +2.8      12113                   11950    +1.4
Total                         11655               11243    +3.7      70513                   69291    +1.8

Passenger load factor (%)
UK/Europe                      72.5                74.2    -1.7 pts   70.7                    71.3    -0.6 pts
Americas                       74.7                76.6    -1.9 pts   77.7                    74.7    +3.0 pts
Asia Pacific                   81.6                85.0    -3.4 pts   69.6                    78.2    -8.6 pts
Africa and Middle East         77.1                75.2    +1.9 pts   73.3                    69.5    +3.8 pts
Total                          75.7                77.1    -1.4 pts   74.2                    73.6    +0.6 pts

Revenue tonne km (RTK) (m)
Cargo tonne km (CTK)            363                 348    +4.2       2087                    2103    -0.8
Total RTK                      1246                1217    +2.4       7316                    7201    +1.6
Available tonne km (m)         1817                1733    +4.8      10805                   10667    +1.3

Overall load factor (%)        68.6                70.2    -1.6 pts   67.7                    67.5    +0.2 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.

Investor Relations

                                                                Waterside (HCB3)
                                                                      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