4th May 2006 14:15
British Airways PLC04 May 2006 TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS - April 2006 Summary of the headline figures In April 2006, passenger capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres, was4.2 per cent above April 2005. Traffic, measured in Revenue PassengerKilometres, was higher by 9.8 per cent. This resulted in a passenger loadfactor up 4 points versus last year, to 78.7 per cent. The increase in trafficcomprised a 3.8 per cent increase in premium traffic and a 10.9 per centincrease in non-premium traffic. Cargo, measured in Cargo Tonne Kilometres,rose by 1.3 per cent. Overall load factor rose by 2.9 points to 71.6 per cent. As highlighted last month, the timing of Easter this year has reduced premiumvolumes and benefited non premium volumes in April. Market conditions Market conditions remain broadly unchanged as significant promotional activityis required to maintain seat factors. Strategic Developments British Airways increased the fuel surcharge on its longhaul flights from FridayApril 21, 2006 as a result of further rises in the price of fuel. The longhaulfuel surcharge on tickets sold and issued in the UK increased from £30 persector to £35 per sector (£70 return trip). The shorthaul fuel surchargeremained unchanged at £8 per sector (£16 a return trip). The annual fuel billfor 2005/2006 is expected to be some £1.6 billion. We estimated previously thatthis would rise by £400 million in 2006/2007 but at these high fuel prices, wewould now expect this year's fuel bill to be £600 million higher at £2.2billion. The company announced a radical shake-up of its short-haul air fares withone-way all-inclusive tickets starting at £29. All non-changeable economytickets have been scrapped with air travellers able to change their flights, nomatter what they have paid for the ticket, up to midnight the day beforedeparture. The airline increased the flexibility of its lowest priced tickets inresponse to feedback from its customers who increasingly need to change theirflight bookings at short notice due to altering schedules. The move increasesthe number of changeable tickets on sale by 15 million a year. In his first major speech on the environment, Willie Walsh, chief executive ofBritish Airways, said the European Commission should keep its plans for aviationemissions trading simple and practical. He urged the Commission not to riskdelaying the extension of its carbon trading scheme to airlines by making thearrangements too complicated. Addressing Ireland's National ManagementConference in Co Wicklow, he said it was vital to bring the EU scheme intooperation to demonstrate the aviation industry's commitment to addressing itsimpact on global warming. But he warned that the size of aviation's share ofglobal carbon emissions was sometimes overstated. Mr Walsh said the Europeanscheme should apply, initially at least, to flights within the EU only. The company met with its trade unions to hear their joint response to theproposal to address the £1 billion past deficit in the New Airways PensionsScheme (NAPS). Further talks were agreed. British Airways made a £500,000 donation to help rebuild 11 schools devastatedin the South Asia earthquake last autumn. The money, which was raised throughthe British Airways Change for Good Programme, has been given to UNICEF as partof the airline's continuing support of relief efforts across the region. ends May 4, 2006 035/TC/06 BRITISH AIRWAYS MONTHLY TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS Month of April BRITISH AIRWAYS GROUP ChangeSCHEDULED SERVICES 2006 2005 (%)Passengers carried (000)UK/Europe 1959 1923 +1.9Americas 670 622 +7.6Asia Pacific 160 140 +14.2Africa and Middle East 280 239 +17.1Total 3068 2924 +5.0 Revenue passenger km (m)UK/Europe 1848 1753 +5.4Americas 4513 4158 +8.6Asia Pacific 1606 1443 +11.3Africa and Middle East 1863 1599 +16.5Total 9830 8952 +9.8 Available seat km (m)UK/Europe 2592 2684 -3.4Americas 5472 5253 +4.2Asia Pacific 2017 1929 +4.6Africa and Middle East 2403 2112 +13.8Total 12486 11979 +4.2 Passenger load factor (%)UK/Europe 71.3 65.3 +6.0 ptsAmericas 82.5 79.1 +3.4 ptsAsia Pacific 79.6 74.8 +4.8 ptsAfrica and Middle East 77.5 75.7 +1.8 ptsTotal 78.7 74.7 +4.0 pts Revenue tonne km (RTK) (m)Cargo tonne km (CTK) 404 398 +1.3Total RTK 1380 1287 +7.3Available tonne km (m) 1928 1873 +3.0 Overall load factor (%) 71.6 68.7 +2.9 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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