3rd Feb 2006 07:00
British Airways PLC03 February 2006 TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS - January 2006 Summary of the headline figures In January 2006, passenger capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres, was3 per cent above January 2005. Traffic, measured in Revenue PassengerKilometres, was higher by 3.3 per cent. This resulted in a passenger loadfactor up 0.2 points versus last year, to 72.5 per cent. The increase intraffic comprised a 7.8 per cent increase in premium traffic and a 2.6 per centincrease in non-premium traffic. Cargo, measured in Cargo Tonne Kilometres, wasflat. Overall load factor was also flat at 68.1 per cent. Market conditions Some yield improvement is still expected for this financial year. Consequently,revenue is now expected to grow by more than 8%. Despite the improved revenue outlook, market conditions remain broadly unchangedas significant promotional activity is required to maintain seat factors. Costs Underlying costs excluding fuel are now expected to be some 1% higher than theguidance we gave at the beginning of the year, which was flat. Fuel costs continue to be a challenge for the industry, but our guidance isunchanged with total fuel costs expected to be up by £525 million this year. Strategic Developments British Airways' regional subsidiary, British Airways CitiExpress, wasrelaunched as BA Connect in a major drive to improve profitability and competemore aggressively in the UK regions by offering more choice and lower faresslashed by more than 40 per cent. The airline announced that it aims to comply fully with new US governmentAdvanced Passenger Information legislation by March 7, 2006. The new legislationrequires extra passenger information from all non-US passport holders travellingto the US including their country of residence and a first night destinationaddress as well as data found in their passport. At a speech at the Wings Club in New York, chairman Martin Broughton called onthe United States government to show courage and free the aviation industry fromits regulatory straitjacket by scrapping existing foreign ownership rules. Hechallenged the US administration to create a genuine dialogue with Congress overthe potential benefits of allowing overseas companies to take majority stakes inAmerican carriers. Ends February 3, 2006 CW/011/2006 BRITISH AIRWAYS MONTHLY TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS Month of January Financial year April through to JanBRITISH AIRWAYS Change ChangeSCHEDULED SERVICES 2006 2005 (%) 2006 2005 (%)Passengers carried (000)UK/Europe 1599 1599 +0.0 19601 19934 -1.7Americas 562 577 -2.6 6243 6120 +2.0Asia Pacific 166 147 +12.8 1592 1399 +13.8Africa and Middle East 318 299 +6.1 2612 2585 +1.0Total 2644 2622 +0.9 30047 30038 +0.0 Revenue passenger km (m)UK/Europe 1425 1407 +1.3 18113 17859 +1.4Americas 3795 3881 -2.2 41925 40940 +2.4Asia Pacific 1727 1512 +14.2 16407 14391 +14.0Africa and Middle East 2172 2025 +7.2 17654 17306 +2.0Total 9119 8825 +3.3 94100 90496 +4.0 Available seat km (m)UK/Europe 2532 2545 -0.5 26669 26034 +2.4Americas 5144 5185 -0.8 52816 52315 +1.0Asia Pacific 2225 1979 +12.4 21367 19481 +9.7Africa and Middle East 2670 2497 +6.9 22864 22678 +0.8Total 12571 12206 +3.0 123715 120508 +2.7 Passenger load factor (%)UK/Europe 56.3 55.3 +1.0 pts 67.9 68.6 -0.7 ptsAmericas 73.8 74.8 -1.0 pts 79.4 78.3 +1.1 ptsAsia Pacific 77.6 76.4 +1.2 pts 76.8 73.9 +2.9 ptsAfrica and Middle East 81.3 81.1 +0.2 pts 77.2 76.3 +0.9 ptsTotal 72.5 72.3 +0.2 pts 76.1 75.1 +1.0 pts Revenue tonne km (RTK) (m)Cargo tonne km (CTK) 412 412 +0.0 4100 4148 -1.1Total RTK 1335 1305 +2.3 13508 13196 +2.4Available tonne km (m) 1961 1917 +2.3 19326 18865 +2.4 Overall load factor (%) 68.1 68.1 +0.0 pts 69.9 69.9 +0.0 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. 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