Traffic statistics May 2006

British Airways PLC
05 June 2006



TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS - May 2006

Summary of the headline figures

In May 2006, passenger capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres, was 5.1
per cent above May 2005.  Traffic, measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres, was
higher by 6.9 per cent.  This resulted in a passenger load factor up 1.3 points
versus last year, to 74.5 per cent.  The increase in traffic comprised a 13.9
per cent increase in premium traffic and a 5.7 per cent increase in non-premium
traffic.  Cargo, measured in Cargo Tonne Kilometres, increased by 2.3 per cent.
Overall load factor increased by 0.7 points to 68.4 per cent.


Market conditions


Market conditions remain broadly unchanged as significant promotional activity
is required to maintain seat factors.


Strategic Developments


British Airways announced a pre-tax profit of £620 million for the year to March
31, 2006 (2005: £513 million profit).  The pre-tax profit for the fourth
quarter was £91 million (2005: £6 million loss).  Operating profit for the year
was £705 million (2005: £556 million profit) and £93 million for the quarter
(2005: £46 million profit).


The company's accounting valuation of its main pension scheme, the New Airways
Pension Scheme (NAPS), showed a deficit of £2,070 million at March 31, 2006, up
£101 million on the previous year. The accounting deficit reflects low long-term
interest rates and has gone up despite the company's increased contributions and
strong equity markets.


British Airways welcomed the statement from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
that it will protect customers at BAA airports from being overcharged to fund
payments to the airport operator's shareholders during its current bid battle.
The CAA is currently consulting on the level of user charges at Heathrow,
Gatwick and Stansted airports for a five year period from April 2008 in its role
as economic regulator.


The airline launched a promotion offering savings of up to £1,250 on Club World
return fares to 58 long haul destinations this summer including New York,
Singapore and all Caribbean destinations.


Ends



June 5, 2006
                                               043/CW/2006


BRITISH AIRWAYS MONTHLY TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS

                                              Month of May                    Financial year
                                                                            April through to May
BRITISH AIRWAYS                                     Change                                 Change
SCHEDULED SERVICES               2006       2005       (%)            2006        2005        (%)

Passengers carried (000)

UK/Europe                        2050       2030      +1.0            4009        3953       +1.4
Americas                          668        635      +5.2            1338        1258       +6.4
Asia Pacific                      144        133      +8.9             304         273      +11.6
Africa and Middle East            267        225     +18.5             546         464      +17.8
Total                            3129       3023      +3.5            6198        5947       +4.2

Revenue passenger km (m)

UK/Europe                        1931       1903      +1.5            3779        3656       +3.4
Americas                         4499       4247      +6.0            9012        8405       +7.2
Asia Pacific                     1455       1374      +5.9            3061        2817       +8.6
Africa and Middle East           1777       1513     +17.4            3640        3112      +17.0
Total                            9662       9037      +6.9           19493       17991       +8.4

Available seat km (m)

UK/Europe                        2727       2796      -2.5            5319        5481       -3.0
Americas                         5673       5393      +5.2           11146       10648       +4.7
Asia Pacific                     2078       1994      +4.2            4095        3923       +4.4
Africa and Middle East           2494       2160     +15.4            4897        4272      +14.6
Total                           12972      12344      +5.1           25457       24324       +4.7

Passenger load factor (%)

UK/Europe                        70.8       68.0      +2.8 pts        71.0        66.7       +4.3 pts
Americas                         79.3       78.7      +0.6 pts        80.9        78.9       +2.0 pts
Asia Pacific                     70.0       68.9      +1.1 pts        74.7        71.8       +2.9 pts
Africa and Middle East           71.3       70.0      +1.3 pts        74.3        72.8       +1.5 pts
Total                            74.5       73.2      +1.3 pts        76.6        74.0       +2.6 pts

Revenue tonne km (RTK) (m)

Cargo tonne km (CTK)              411        401      +2.3             820         795       +3.2
Total RTK                        1374       1303      +5.5            2760        2585       +6.8
Available tonne km (m)           2009       1925      +4.4            3954        3799       +4.1

Overall load factor (%)          68.4       67.7      +0.7 pts        69.8        68.1       +1.7 pts


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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