5th Mar 2008 14:15
British Airways PLC05 March 2008 TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS - February 2008 Summary of the headline figures In February 2008, passenger capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres, was4.4 per cent above February 2007. Traffic, measured in Revenue PassengerKilometres, rose by 5.3 per cent. This resulted in a passenger load factorincrease of 0.6 points versus last year, to 68.4 per cent. Traffic comprised a15.1 per cent increase in premium traffic and a 3.4 per cent rise in non-premiumtraffic. Comparatives between February 2007 and 2008 are difficult due to theadditional day in the month and the lingering effects of the threat ofindustrial action on the first few days of February 2007. Cargo, measured in Cargo Tonne Kilometres, rose by 19.8 per cent. Market conditions Longhaul premium traffic remains strong, while shorthaul premium and longhaulnon-premium continue to show weakness. The company will provide a further updateon market conditions at its Investor Day tomorrow, March 6. This event will beavailable as a webcast at www.bashares.com. Strategic Developments British Airways said it will launch double daily business class-only flightsfrom London City airport to New York next year. The new flights will operate onAirbus A318 aircraft with 32 seats onboard. British Airways announced it is to partner with the London Olympic GamesOrganising Committee (LOCOG) to become the 'Official Airline of the London 2012Olympic and Paralympic Games' and a Top Tier sponsor of the London 2012 Games.The deal combines air travel for Britain's Olympic hopefuls as well as financialsupport for staging the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. British Airways increased its fuel surcharge on all longhaul tickets issued fromMonday, February 25, 2008. The decision reflected continuing high oil prices.The surcharge for longhaul flights of less than nine hours increased by £5 perflight from £48 to £53 (£106 return) and flights of more than nine hoursincreased by £6 from £58 to £64 per flight (£128 return). There was no change tothe shorthaul fuel surcharge which remained at £10 per flight (£20 return). British Airways and Virgin Atlantic agreed in principle a settlement to resolvethe class action litigation pending in the United States District Court for theNorthern District of California, brought on behalf of US and UK passengersrelating to alleged overcharges on longhaul passenger fuel surcharges. British Airways became the first airline to achieve the City & Guilds ApprovedCentre Status. New entrants on the cabin crew-training programme are noweligible to obtain a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 2 -equivalent to 5 GCSE's. ends March 5, 2008 029/TC/08 BRITISH AIRWAYS SCHEDULED SERVICES Financial year Month of February April to February 2008 2007 Change (%) 2008 2006/07 Change (%)Passengers carried (000) UK/Europe 1398 1301 +7.5 18620 18555 +0.4Americas 494 455 +8.4 6868 6756 +1.7Asia Pacific 134 125 +7.3 1665 1681 -1.0Africa and Middle East 289 293 -1.2 3246 3272 -0.8Total 2315 2174 +6.5 30399 30263 +0.4 Revenue passenger km (m)UK/Europe 1337 1245 +7.3 18367 18343 +0.1Americas 3343 3084 +8.4 46253 45563 +1.5Asia Pacific 1399 1291 +8.4 17143 17177 -0.2Africa and Middle East 1965 2018 -2.6 21781 22080 -1.4Total 8044 7683 +5.3 103545 103161 +0.4 Available seat km (m)UK/Europe 2196 2097 +4.7 26684 25658 +4.0Americas 5122 4745 +8.0 60559 59457 +1.9Asia Pacific 1807 1779 +1.6 21342 21941 -2.7Africa and Middle East 2641 2651 -0.4 28436 28567 -0.5Total 11766 11272 +4.4 137021 135622 +1.0 Passenger load factor (%)UK/Europe 60.9 59.4 +1.5 pts 68.8 71.5 -2.7 ptsAmericas 65.3 65.0 +0.3 pts 76.4 76.6 -0.2 ptsAsia Pacific 77.4 72.6 +4.8 pts 80.3 78.3 +2.0 ptsAfrica and Middle East 74.4 76.1 -1.7 pts 76.6 77.3 -0.7 ptsTotal 68.4 67.8 +0.6 pts 75.6 76.1 -0.5 pts Revenue tonne km (RTK) (m)Cargo tonne km (CTK) 405 338 +19.8 4462 4326 +3.1Total RTK 1206 1108 +7.8 14885 14768 +0.6Available tonne km (m) 1777 1717 +3.5 20959 21009 -0.2 Overall load factor (%) 67.9 65.1 +2.8 pts 71.0 70.4 +0.6 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:
International Airlines