6th May 2008 14:15
British Airways PLC06 May 2008 TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS - April 2008 Summary of the headline figures In April 2008, passenger capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres, was0.4 per cent below April 2007. Traffic, measured in Revenue PassengerKilometres, fell by 7.0 per cent. This resulted in a passenger load factordecrease of 5.1 points versus last year, to 71.6 per cent. Traffic comprised a3.4 per cent increase in premium traffic and an 8.8 per cent fall in non-premiumtraffic. Comparisons across both March and April 2007 and 2008 are complicated by thetiming of Easter, which fell in April in 2007, and by the de-linking of UKschool holidays from the Easter period and into the middle of April. This hasaltered both premium and non-premium travel patterns across the two months. Cargo, measured in Cargo Tonne Kilometres, rose by 5.3 per cent. Market conditions Market conditions are broadly unchanged with longhaul non-premium trafficshowing significant weakness. In April some impact was felt, particularly ontransfer traffic, from the move to Terminal 5 and the operational problems inthe early part of the month. Operations in Terminal 5 continue to show improvement. A normal schedule hasoperated for more than three weeks and more than 1.4 million passengers havetravelled through the terminal. Focus remains on ensuring the stability of thebaggage system so that performance levels can be sustained. Operations inTerminals 1 and 4 are working well. Strategic Developments BAA and British Airways announced that the planned move of the airline's longhaul services at Heathrow from Terminal Four to Terminal Five would be phasedand deferred until June. The decision was taken to ensure higher customerservice standards when additional flights are introduced. BAA and BA have workedtogether to iron out any remaining problems, including the baggage system andits operation, as well as developing a robust timescale for phasing the move ofTerminal 4 services into Terminal 5. British Airways increased its fuel surcharge on all tickets issued from FridayMay 2, 2008. The decision reflected continuing high oil prices. The surchargefor short haul flights increased by £3 per flight to £13 per flight (£26return), for long haul flights of less than nine hours by £10 per flight to £63per flight (£126) and for long haul flights of more than nine hours by £15 perflight to £79 per flight (£158 return). British Airways also increased its fuelsurcharges by similar levels in markets outside the UK. British Airways announced that services from London to New York JFK will beincreased with the introduction of daily flights from Gatwick on Monday October27, 2008. The new flights will mean that the airline will fly 62 times each weekfrom the capital to JFK as the Gatwick flights will operate in addition to 55weekly flights from Heathrow. Over 60 destinations worldwide were included in the British Airways sale.Customers who booked between April 17 and 29 saved up to 35 per cent on selectedroutes including New York, Cape Town and Beijing. The offer included upgradesfrom the World Traveller cabin to World Traveller Plus from £149 one-way onselected destinations. ends May 6, 2008 059/TC/08 BRITISH AIRWAYS SCHEDULED SERVICES Month of April Change 2008 2007 (%)Passengers carried (000)UK/Europe 1594 1741 -8.5Americas 582 632 -7.9Asia Pacific 147 153 -4.2Africa and Middle East 269 287 -6.0Total 2592 2813 -7.9 Revenue passenger km (m)UK/Europe 1632 1716 -4.9Americas 3924 4260 -7.9Asia Pacific 1488 1564 -4.8Africa and Middle East 1753 1917 -8.5Total 8799 9456 -7.0 Available seat km (m)UK/Europe 2529 2445 +3.5Americas 5433 5427 +0.1Asia Pacific 1946 1963 -0.9Africa and Middle East 2378 2500 -4.9Total 12286 12334 -0.4 Passenger load factor (%)UK/Europe 64.6 70.2 -5.6 ptsAmericas 72.2 78.5 -6.3 ptsAsia Pacific 76.5 79.7 -3.2 ptsAfrica and Middle East 73.7 76.7 -3.0 ptsTotal 71.6 76.7 -5.1 pts Revenue tonne km (RTK) (m)Cargo tonne km (CTK) 408 387 +5.3Total RTK 1278 1337 -4.4Available tonne km (m) 1814 1892 -4.2 Overall load factor (%) 70.5 70.6 -0.1 pts Certain information included in these statements is forward-looking and involvesrisks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materiallyfrom those expressed or implied by the forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, projections relating toresults of operations and financial conditions and the Company's plans andobjectives for future operations, including, without limitation, discussions ofthe Company's Business Plan programs, expected future revenues, financing plansand expected expenditures and divestments. All forward-looking statements inthis report are based upon information known to the Company on the date of thisreport. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise anyforward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future eventsor otherwise. It is not reasonably possible to itemize all of the many factors and specificevents that could cause the Company's forward looking statements to be incorrector that could otherwise have a material adverse effect on the future operationsor results of an airline operating in the global economy. Fuller information onsome factors which could result in material difference to the results isavailable in the company's Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2007, whichis available on www.bashareholders.com. Investor Relations, Waterside (HAA3), PO Box 365, Harmondsworth, UB7 OGB: Tel:+44 (0) 20 8738 6947 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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