British Airways PLC - March Traffic Statistics

RNS Number:5544R
British Airways PLC
03 April 2008

TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS - March 2008

Summary of the headline figures

In March 2008, passenger capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres, was
1.6 per cent below March 2007. Traffic, measured in Revenue Passenger
Kilometres, fell by 2.8 per cent. This resulted in a passenger load factor
decrease of 0.9 points versus last year, to 75.4 per cent. Traffic comprised a
5.0 per cent decrease in premium traffic and a 2.3 per cent fall in non-premium
traffic. Comparisons between March 2007 and 2008 are complicated by the timing
of Easter, which fell in April in 2007, and by the de-linking of UK school
holidays from the Easter period and into the middle of April. This altered both
premium and non-premium travel patterns, an impact which is also likely to be
seen in April's statistics.

Cargo, measured in Cargo Tonne Kilometres, rose by 11.5 per cent.

The figures also reflect the events which surrounded the opening of Terminal 5
on 27 March. The impact was borne by the shorthaul schedule, where there were
300 cancelled flights, equating to 0.2 percentage points of capacity. The
financial impact of these events is estimated to be around £16 million,
reflecting all costs associated with the disruption and lost revenue
opportunities. Although there remains a small number of cancellations for today
and tomorrow, the Terminal 5 performance is steadily improving.

Market conditions

Market conditions remain unchanged. Underlying conditions in longhaul premium
traffic continue to be strong, while shorthaul premium and longhaul non-premium
continue to be weak.

Strategic Developments

The opening of Terminal 5 was affected by operational problems that caused major
disruption. The airline is working hard with BAA to resolve these issues.

British Airways increased its stake in the Spanish airline Iberia to 13.15 per
cent. The purchase reflects the strategic importance of Iberia to BA. The
airline bought 28,745,767 shares at an average price of €2.34 per share.

At its annual Investor Day British Airways released its market guidance for the
financial year 2008/9. Revenue is forecast to increase by 4 - 4.5 per cent to
over £9.1 billion, based on capacity measured in available seat kilometers
(ASKs) up 2.4 per cent. Fuel costs are expected to be up by some £450 million to
£2.5 billion, an increase of 20 per cent

British Airways is launching a dozen new routes from Gatwick to European
hotspots this summer. The new routes to Alicante, Faro, Gibraltar, Ibiza,
Malaga, Malta, Palma, Paphos, and Tunis replace services previously operated by
franchise partner GB Airways following the end of that franchise agreement.
There are also new flights to Antalya, Genoa and Poznan.

The Civil Aviation Authority announced that Heathrow's charges over five years
from April 1, 2008 will rise by 23.5 per cent above inflation in year one and by
7.5 per cent above inflation each year between 2009 and 2013. BAA will be
allowed a cost of capital of 6.2 per cent. BA said the decision demonstrates
conclusively that the airport regulation system has failed, to the detriment of
customers.

The first Airbus A380 passenger service flew into Heathrow. British Airways will
handle maintenance of the Singapore Airlines A380s at Heathrow. BA flight crew
begin preparations for delivery of the airline's own fleet of 12 A380s from
April 2012. BA's Captain Jim Harlow is the first UK airline pilot to qualify to
fly the A380.

ends

April 3, 2008
045/TC/08

BRITISH AIRWAYS SCHEDULED SERVICES

Financial year

Month of March April to March

Change Change
2008 2007 (%) 2007/8 2006/07 (%)
Passengers carried (000)
UK/Europe 1648 1695 -2.8 20269 20250 +0.1
Americas 610 614 -0.6 7478 7371 +1.5
Asia Pacific 153 163 -6.0 1818 1844 -1.4
Africa and Middle East 306 325 -5.7 3553 3597 -1.2
Total 2718 2796 -2.8 33118 33061 +0.2

Revenue passenger km (m)
UK/Europe 1613 1623 -0.6 19981 19966 +0.1
Americas 4139 4158 -0.5 50392 49728 +1.3
Asia Pacific 1586 1674 -5.3 18729 18851 -0.6
Africa and Middle East 2062 2214 -6.9 23843 24296 -1.9
Total 9400 9669 -2.8 112946 112842 +0.1

Available seat km (m)
UK/Europe 2399 2386 +0.6 29084 28044 +3.7
Americas 5382 5408 -0.5 65941 64870 +1.7
Asia Pacific 1914 1996 -4.1 23256 23937 -2.8
Africa and Middle East 2771 2879 -3.8 31206 31448 -0.8
Total 12466 12669 -1.6 149488 148299 +0.8

Passenger load factor (%)
UK/Europe 67.2 68.0 -0.8 pts 68.7 71.2 -2.5 pts
Americas 76.9 76.9 +0.0 pts 76.4 76.7 -0.3 pts
Asia Pacific 82.8 83.9 -1.1 pts 80.5 78.8 +1.7 pts
Africa and Middle East 74.4 76.9 -2.5 pts 76.4 77.3 -0.9 pts
Total 75.4 76.3 -0.9 pts 75.6 76.1 -0.5 pts

Revenue tonne km (RTK) (m)
Cargo tonne km (CTK) 431 387 +11.5 4890 4715 +3.7
Total RTK 1367 1368 -0.1 16248 16170 +0.5
Available tonne km (m) 1863 1926 -3.2 22819 22936 -0.5

Overall load factor (%) 73.3 71.0 +2.3 pts 71.2 70.5 +0.7 pts

Certain information included in these statements is forward-looking and involves
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those expressed or implied by the forward looking statements.

Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, projections relating to
results of operations and financial conditions and the Company's plans and
objectives for future operations, including, without limitation, discussions of
the Company's Business Plan programs, expected future revenues, financing plans
and expected expenditures and divestments. All forward-looking statements in
this report are based upon information known to the Company on the date of this
report. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise.

It is not reasonably possible to itemize all of the many factors and specific
events that could cause the Company's forward looking statements to be incorrect
or that could otherwise have a material adverse effect on the future operations
or results of an airline operating in the global economy. Fuller information on
some factors which could result in material difference to the results is
available in the company's Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2007, which
is available on www.bashareholders.com.

Investor Relations, Waterside (HAA3), PO Box 365, Harmondsworth, UB7 OGB: Tel:
+44 (0) 20 8738 6947

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