Traffic statistics - May

British Airways PLC
03 June 2004



TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS - May 2004


Summary of the headline figures



In May 2004, passenger capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres, was 8
per cent above May 2003 and traffic, measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres,
was higher by 11 per cent.  This resulted in a passenger load factor up 1.9
points versus last year, to 71.6 per cent.  The increase in traffic comprised a
12.1 per cent increase in premium traffic and a 10.8 per cent increase in
non-premium traffic.  Cargo, measured in Cargo Tonne Kilometres, rose by 15.6
per cent.   Overall load factor fell 0.6 points to 66.5 per cent.





Market conditions



Market conditions are unchanged.  Longhaul premium volumes are recovering
steadily, while shorthaul premium remain at lower levels.  Non-premium volumes
are very price-sensitive.



Strategic Developments



British Airways posted a pre-tax profit of £230 million for the full year to
March 31, 2004 (2003: £135 million profit). There was a pre-tax profit for the
fourth quarter of £45 million (2003: £200 million loss).
The operating profit for the full year was £405 million (2003: £295 million
profit). The operating profit for the fourth quarter was £32 million, £196
million better than last year.


British Airways added £2.50 per flight sector (£5 return trip) as a separate
fuel surcharge to its fares in the UK from Thursday, May 13, as a result of the
rising price of oil.  The fuel surcharge applies to all fares, except the lowest
lead in fares, sold across the British Airways' global network.  In all markets
outside the UK a surcharge of $4 USD per flight sector will be added.



British Airways CitiExpress launched direct flights from Birmingham
International Airport to Lyon, Vienna and Nice and announced increased capacity
on existing services from Birmingham to Dusseldorf.


British Airways cut European airfares by up to a third on major routes departing
from London Gatwick.  Fares are now reduced by up to £30 return throughout the
year to 38 European destinations.



British Airways announced a six week sale offering savings of up to £330 on
business class return fares to 75 European cities and savings of over £1000
(some forty per cent) on Club World fares to many popular destinations, for
travel during the school holidays.







                                      ends





BRITISH AIRWAYS MONTHLY TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS


                                                    Month of May                  Financial year to date
                                                                                    April through May
BRITISH AIRWAYS GROUP                                     Change                                   Change
SCHEDULED SERVICES                    2004       2003        (%)            2004        2003          (%)
Passengers carried (000)
UK/Europe                             2051       2046       +0.3            4073        4031         +1.0
Americas                               621        583       +6.6            1253        1140         +9.9
Asia Pacific                           120         80      +51.1             251         170        +47.5
Africa and Middle East                 228        200      +14.2             473         385        +22.8
Total                                 3021       2908       +3.9            6049        5726         +5.6

Revenue passenger km (m)
UK/Europe                             1823       1741       +4.7            3611        3396         +6.4
Americas                              4170       3917       +6.5            8360        7683         +8.8
Asia Pacific                          1246        880      +41.6            2597        1867        +39.1
Africa and Middle East                1520       1355      +12.1            3136        2659        +18.0
Total                                 8758       7893      +11.0           17705       15604        +13.5

Available seat km (m)
UK/Europe                             2655       2599       +2.2            5224        5085         +2.7
Americas                              5404       5147       +5.0           10627       10200         +4.2
Asia Pacific                          1906       1595      +19.5            3748        3231        +16.0
Africa and Middle East                2260       1984      +13.9            4482        3927        +14.1
Total                                12226      11326       +8.0           24081       22443         +7.3

Passenger load factor (%)
UK/Europe                             68.6       67.0       +1.6 pts        69.1        66.8         +2.3 pts
Americas                              77.2       76.1       +1.1 pts        78.7        75.3         +3.4 pts
Asia Pacific                          65.4       55.2      +10.2 pts        69.3        57.8        +11.5 pts
Africa and Middle East                67.2       68.3       -1.1 pts        70.0        67.7         +2.3 pts
Total                                 71.6       69.7       +1.9 pts        73.5        69.5         +4.0 pts

Revenue tonne km (RTK) (m)
Cargo tonne km (CTK)                   434        375      +15.6             823         706        +16.5
Total RTK                             1269       1164       +9.0            2506        2263        +10.8
Available tonne km (m)                1907       1736       +9.9            3765        3432         +9.7

Overall load factor (%)               66.5       67.1       -0.6 pts        66.6        65.9         +0.7 pts



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



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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