3rd May 2007 14:15
British Airways PLC03 May 2007 TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS - April 2007 Summary of the headline figures In April 2007, passenger capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres, was0.5 per cent above April 2006. Traffic, measured in Revenue PassengerKilometres, was lower by 2.2 per cent. This resulted in a passenger load factordown 2.1 points versus last year, to 76.9 per cent. The decrease in trafficcomprised a 1 per cent increase in premium traffic and a 2.8 per cent decreasein non-premium traffic. The decline in non-premium to some degree reflects yearon year Easter effect that saw a 10.9% increase last year. Cargo, measured in Cargo Tonne Kilometres, fell by 7.7 per cent. Overall loadfactor fell by 0.7 points to 70.9 per cent. Market conditions Underlying market conditions are broadly unchanged. Premium continues positive,while weak non-premium, especially on the Atlantic is still a feature. Strategic Developments The airline won Airline of the Year 2007 at the OAG awards. British Airways launched a £5 million advertising campaign to promote theairline's new Club World business class service. The next-generation Club Worldis now on 96 services a week between London Heathrow and New York JFK, as itsinstallation continues across the airline's long-haul fleet. The airline launched a summer season sale with prices from as low as £239return. Sale prices include Los Angeles and Miami for £399 and New York,Baltimore, and Washington available from just £349. British Airways increased its longhaul fuel surcharge, effective from May 2, onflights of less than nine hours from £30 per sector (£60 return) to £33 (£66return) and from £35 per sector to £38 (£76 return) on flights longer than ninehours. A number of private equity companies have been approached by British Airwaysabout making a consortium offer for Iberia. Any consortium bid would not involvefurther capital investment by British Airways and the company continues toexamine numerous options including full disposal. However, it did rule out anindependent bid for the airline. The board of directors approved the delisting of British Airways Plc from theNew York Stock Exchange and the deregistration of the company and termination ofits reporting obligations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"). The company has provided written notice to the NYSE of itsintent to delist. British Airways has chosen Rolls-Royce Trent engines to power its four newBoeing 777-200ER aircraft that will be delivered in 2009 and agreed a long-termmaintenance contract with Rolls Royce for the engines. Tickets for the first flights from London Heathrow's Terminal 5 went on salethis month. British Airways announced the appointment of Julia Simpson as head of corporatecommunications with effect from August 2007. ends May 3, 2007 059/TC/07 BRITISH AIRWAYS MONTHLY TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS Month of April BRITISH AIRWAYS GROUP ChangeSCHEDULED SERVICES 2007 2006 (%)Passengers carried (000)UK/Europe 1741 1710 +1.8Americas 632 670 -5.6Asia Pacific 153 160 -4.1Africa and Middle East 287 280 +2.5Total 2813 2819 -0.2 Revenue passenger km (m)UK/Europe 1716 1692 +1.4Americas 4260 4513 -5.6Asia Pacific 1564 1606 -2.6Africa and Middle East 1917 1863 +2.9Total 9456 9674 -2.2 Available seat km (m)UK/Europe 2445 2347 +4.2Americas 5397 5472 -1.4Asia Pacific 1963 2017 -2.7Africa and Middle East 2500 2403 +4.0Total 12304 12240 +0.5 Passenger load factor (%)UK/Europe 70.2 72.1 -1.9 ptsAmericas 78.9 82.5 -3.6 ptsAsia Pacific 79.7 79.6 +0.1 ptsAfrica and Middle East 76.7 77.5 -0.8 ptsTotal 76.9 79.0 -2.1 pts Revenue tonne km (RTK) (m)Cargo tonne km (CTK) 372 404 -7.7Total RTK 1321 1380 -4.3Available tonne km (m) 1864 1928 -3.3 Overall load factor (%) 70.9 71.6 -0.7 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. Information on somefactors which could result in material difference to the results is available inthe Company's SEC filings, including, without limitation the Company's Report onForm 20-F for the year ended March 2006. Investor Relations Waterside (HCB3) PO Box 365 Harmondsworth UB7 OGB Tel: +44 (0) 20 8738 6947 Fax: +44( 0) 20 8738 9602 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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