5th May 2005 14:15
British Airways PLC05 May 2005 TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS - April 2005 Summary of the headline figures In April 2005, passenger capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres, was1.0 per cent above April 2004 and traffic, measured in Revenue PassengerKilometres, was higher by 0.1 per cent. This resulted in a passenger load factordown 0.8 points versus last year, to 74.7 per cent. The increase in trafficcomprised a 13.3 per cent increase in premium traffic and a 2.0 per centdecrease in non-premium traffic. Cargo, measured in Cargo Tonne Kilometres,fell by 0.2 per cent. Overall load factor fell 0.7 points to 68.7 per cent. Market conditions Market conditions remain broadly unchanged. Strategic Developments British Airways announced plans to increase flights to India following a new airservices agreement between the UK and Indian governments. From October 2005 itwill operate a double daily service from London Heathrow to Mumbai, a new five aweek to Bangalore and six a week to Chennai. From March 2006, it plans tooperate a double daily service to Delhi, and daily services to Bangalore andChennai from London Heathrow. At the same time British Airways confirmed it will launch services to Shanghaifrom London Heathrow on June 1, 2005, with five services a week to ShanghaiPudong airport operated by Boeing 777 aircraft. Another new route from London Gatwick was announced with twice weekly flights toHassi Messaoud in Algeria from June. Prime Minister Tony Blair signed a British Airways Boeing 747 in support ofLondon's bid to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. British Airways, apremier partner of the London 2012 bid, hopes to collect in excess of 100,000signatures on the aircraft that will carry the bid team to Singapore for thedecision vote by the International Olympic Committee. In a speech to the Royal Aeronautical Society, British Airways' chairman MartinBroughton said the resumption of negotiations between the EU and the USA on anew transatlantic air treaty could lead to fundamental reform of the aviationindustry if it delivers a truly barrier free transatlantic market. British Airways offered large savings on business class returns to 36 long hauldestinations and 36 European cities and resorts for the summer holidays. British Airways terminated its franchise agreement with Air Kenya Aviation Ltd,which traded as Regional Air. The decision followed the Kenyan based airline'ssuspension of flights operated as part of the franchise agreement. British Airways is to appeal against an employment tribunal ruling after losingan indirect sex discrimination claim from a female pilot. The first officer hadrequested a reduction in flying hours to a 50 per cent contract but the airlinesaid it could only offer her a 75 per cent contract instead. The airline arguedat the tribunal and will argue again at the appeal hearing that all pilots, maleand female, must have at least 2,000 flying hours' experience before beingpermitted to work less than 75 per cent of a full time contract. This policy isbased on safety grounds and is not a gender issue. ends May 5, 2005 044/CW/05 BRITISH AIRWAYS MONTHLY TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS Month of April BRITISH AIRWAYS GROUP ChangeSCHEDULED SERVICES 2005 2004 (%)Passengers carried (000)UK/Europe 1923 2025 -5.1Americas 622 628 -0.9Asia Pacific 140 130 +7.5Africa and Middle East 239 244 -2.4Total 2924 3028 -3.4 Revenue passenger km (m)UK/Europe 1753 1788 -2.0Americas 4158 4190 -0.8Asia Pacific 1443 1351 +6.8Africa and Middle East 1599 1617 -1.1Total 8952 8946 +0.1 Available seat km (m)UK/Europe 2684 2568 +4.5Americas 5253 5222 +0.6Asia Pacific 1929 1842 +4.7Africa and Middle East 2112 2221 -4.9Total 11979 11855 +1.0 Passenger load factor (%)UK/Europe 65.3 69.6 -4.3Americas 79.1 80.2 -1.1Asia Pacific 74.8 73.3 +1.5Africa and Middle East 75.7 72.8 +2.9Total 74.7 75.5 -0.8 Revenue tonne km (RTK) (m)Cargo tonne km (CTK) 398 399 -0.2Total RTK 1287 1286 +0.1Available tonne km (m) 1873 1853 +1.1 Overall load factor (%) 68.7 69.4 -0.7 pts Certain statements included in this statement may be forward-looking and mayinvolve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differmaterially from 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 and financing plans, expected future revenues andexpenditures and divestments. All forward-looking statements in this report arebased upon information known to the company on the date of this report. Thecompany 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 itemise 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. 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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