4th Feb 2005 07:00
British Airways PLC04 February 2005 TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS - January 2005 Summary of the headline figures In January 2005, passenger capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres, was3.2 per cent above January 2004. Traffic, measured in Revenue PassengerKilometres, was higher by 8.1 per cent. This resulted in a passenger loadfactor up 3.2 points versus last year, to 72.3 per cent. The increase intraffic comprised an 11.8 per cent increase in premium traffic and a 7.5 percent increase in non-premium traffic. Cargo, measured in Cargo TonneKilometres, rose by 14.2 per cent. Overall load factor rose by 3.3 points to68.1 per cent. Market conditions Market conditions for the current financial year remain broadly unchanged. Forthe year to March 2005, the total revenue outlook is slightly better thanprevious guidance with a 3.0-3.5 per cent improvement anticipated (compares withprevious 2-3 per cent). All market segments remain price sensitive and yielddeclines are expected to continue. Strategic Developments British Airways plans to fly five flights a week this summer from LondonHeathrow to Shanghai in China, subject to approval by the Chinese authorities.The airline currently flies from London Heathrow to Beijing four times a weekincreasing to six times per week from June 2005 and 17 times a week to HongKong, increasing to 21 flights a week from June 2005. British Airways flights between London Heathrow and Jeddah and Riyadh in SaudiArabia are to be suspended from March 27, 2005 for commercial reasons, due toreduced passenger demand. Commission payments to UK travel agents on British Airways' bookings are to bereduced from one percent to zero from May 1 2005. Agents will be free to chargetheir own scale of service fees in addition to the ticket price. Service fees of£15 on short haul bookings made via the telephone have been extended to longhaulflights. The airline's multi-award winning Club World flat bed is to be improved with thelatest cushioning technology to give customers more comfort and furtherergonomic support. This is the first time such cushioning has been used in anairline seat. Business travellers can earn the equivalent of a free ticket when they booktheir next British Airways business class ticket. The airline is giving awayover 750 million BA Miles in a bumper New Year mileage offer. The offer givesall passengers, who book an eligible Club World or First flight for travelbetween now and March 24 2005, triple BA Miles. Passengers have to join theBritish Airways Executive Club to be eligible for the promotion and can gain thebonus miles on up to four eligible return flights taken within the travelperiod. ends February 4, 2005 008/KG/05 BRITISH AIRWAYS MONTHLY TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS Month of January Financial year to date April through to JanuaryBRITISH AIRWAYS Change ChangeSCHEDULED SERVICES 2005 2004 (%) 2005 2004 (%)Passengers carried (000)UK/Europe 1599 1564 +2.2 19934 19957 -0.1Americas 577 542 +6.5 6120 5983 +2.3Asia Pacific 147 134 +9.7 1399 1215 +15.1Africa and Middle East 299 273 +9.5 2585 2331 +10.9Total 2622 2513 +4.3 30038 29487 +1.9 Revenue passenger km (m)UK/Europe 1407 1307 +7.6 17859 17093 +4.5Americas 3881 3638 +6.7 40940 39971 +2.4Asia Pacific 1512 1401 +7.9 14391 12870 +11.8Africa and Middle East 2025 1821 +11.2 17306 15632 +10.7Total 8825 8167 +8.1 90496 85565 +5.8 Available seat km (m)UK/Europe 2545 2405 +5.8 26034 25265 +3.0Americas 5185 5208 -0.4 52315 52510 -0.4Asia Pacific 1979 1875 +5.5 19481 17729 +9.9Africa and Middle East 2497 2339 +6.8 22678 21161 +7.2Total 12206 11827 +3.2 120508 116665 +3.3 Passenger load factor (%)UK/Europe 55.3 54.3 +1.0 pts 68.6 67.7 +0.9 ptsAmericas 74.8 69.9 +4.9 pts 78.3 76.1 +2.2 ptsAsia Pacific 76.4 74.7 +1.7 pts 73.9 72.6 +1.3 ptsAfrica and Middle East 81.1 77.8 +3.3 pts 76.3 73.9 +2.4 ptsTotal 72.3 69.1 +3.2 pts 75.1 73.3 +1.8 pts Revenue tonne km (RTK) (m)Cargo tonne km (CTK) 412 361 +14.2 4148 3650 +13.6Total RTK 1305 1187 +9.9 13196 12222 +8.0Available tonne km (m) 1917 1832 +4.6 18865 18057 +4.5 Overall load factor (%) 68.1 64.8 +3.3 pts 69.9 67.7 +2.2 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 programmes, expected future revenues, financingplans and expected expenditures and divestments. All forward-looking statementsin this report are based upon information known to the company on the date ofthis report. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or reviseany forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, futureevents or 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. 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 2004. 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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