TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS - February 2003
Summary of the headline figures
In February 2003, overall load factor remained flat at 66.1 per cent. Passenger capacity,
measured in Available Seat Kilometres, was 3.5 per cent below February 2002 and traffic,
measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres, was lower by 5.6 per cent. This resulted in a
passenger load factor down 1.6 points versus last year, to 70.0 per cent. A number of
operational issues have impacted the month including, snow and ice at London Heathrow and
major snow storms at many of our US east coast gateways and security alerts and Heathrow
and Gatwick. The fall in traffic comprised a 14.3 per cent reduction in premium traffic
and a 5.6 per cent decrease in non-premium traffic. Cargo, measured in Cargo Tonne
Kilometres, increased by 0.9 per cent.
Market conditions
The economic and political environment is challenging as the threat of war and terrorism
grows.
Strategic Developments
British Airways criticised the Civil Aviation Authority for failing to revise its new
pricing regime at Heathrow airport which will allow the airport operator, BAA, to raise
landing charges by up to 50 per cent over the next five years.
The airline believes the new charges, which will come into force on April 1, 2003, are
stacked against airlines and passengers and go way beyond the requirements needed to fund
BAA's capital programme over the next five years.
British Airways introduced a short term policy to allow customers to change their ticket
reservation free of charge on long haul economy tickets, including restricted tickets that
currently do not allow changes. The new arrangement applies to reservations made between
14 February and 17 March 2003 which can be changed anytime up to 31 May 2003, for travel
until the end of December 2003. Customers can choose to change their destination, dates or
class of travel.
A three month internet trial began on a British Airways 747-400 aircraft, on services
between London Heathrow and New York using Connexion Boeing broadband system. Passengers
can plug in their laptop from their seat and access personal and work emails, corporate
intranets and the web.
British Airways, its oneworld partner Iberia and franchise partner GB Airways announced
new codeshare routes from February 20 on services between London Heathrow and Seville,
Valencia, Malaga, Santiago de Compostela and Bilbao and services between London, Gatwick
and Madrid, Barcelona and Bilbao.
Iberia added its code to nine GB Airways operated services; London Gatwick and Almeria,
Girona-Costa Brava, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Mahon-Menorca, Malaga, Seville and Valencia,
and London Heathrow to Malaga.
British Airways and its oneworld partner Cathay Pacific Airways increased their
code-shared destinations to nineteen with the announcement of extra code-share flights to
Seoul, Copenhagen and Lisbon.
From 4 March 2003, British Airways will add its code to a daily Cathay Pacific flight
between Hong Kong and Seoul providing smoother connections and improved choice for
passengers travelling to Asia Pacific.
At the same time, Cathay Pacific will add its code on selected British Airways' European
flights operating between London Heathrow and Copenhagen and Lisbon providing smoother
European connections for passengers travelling on Cathay Pacific's flights between London
and Hong Kong.
March 5, 2003
BRITISH AIRWAYS MONTHLY TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS
Month of February
Financial year to date
April
through February
BRITISH AIRWAYS GROUP
Change
Change
SCHEDULED SERVICES 2003 2002
(%) 2002/3 2001/2
(%)
Passengers carried (000)
UK/Europe
1923
1895 +1.5 24522
25166 -2.6
Americas
465
479 -2.9 6123
6092 +0.5
Asia Pacific
113
147 -22.9 1431
1625 -11.9
Africa and Middle East 220 217
+1.4 2368
2539 -6.7
Total
2722
2738 -0.6 34445
35422 -2.8
Revenue passenger km (m)
UK/Europe
1458
1463 -0.4 19220
20167 -4.7
Americas
3159
3293 -4.1 41319
41666 -0.8
Asia Pacific
1171
1502 -22.0 14645
16398 -10.7
Africa and Middle East 1510 1477
+2.2 16025 17192
-6.8
Total
7298
7735 -5.6 91208
95424 -4.4
Available seat km (m)
UK/Europe
2358
2399 -1.7 28722
32224 -10.9
Americas
4521
4534 -0.3 56372
57874 -2.6
Asia Pacific
1566
1923 -18.5 18920
22408 -15.6
Africa and Middle East 1983 1950
+1.7 22501 24266
-7.3
Total
10429
10806 -3.5 126515
136772 -7.5
Passenger load factor (%)
UK/Europe
61.8
61.0 +0.8 pts
66.9 62.6 +4.3
pts
Americas
69.9
72.6 -2.7 pts
73.3 72.0 +1.3
pts
Asia Pacific
74.8
78.1 -3.3 pts
77.4 73.2 +4.2
pts
Africa and Middle East 76.1 75.8
+0.3 pts 71.2
70.8 +0.4 pts
Total
70.0
71.6 -1.6 pts
72.1 69.8 +2.3
pts
Revenue tonne km (RTK) (m)
Cargo tonne km (CTK) 323 321
+0.9 3850
3658 +5.3
Total RTK
1051
1089 -3.5
12972 13203
-1.8
Available tonne km (m) 1589 1649
-3.6 19430
20778 -6.5
Overall load factor (%) 66.1 66.1
+0.0 pts 66.8
63.5 +3.3 pts
Certain information included in this statement 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 'Future Size and
Shape' programme, 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 itemise 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. Information on some factors which could result in
material difference to the results is available in the Company's SEC filings, including,
without limitation the Company's Report on Form 20-F for the year ended March 2002.
Investor Relations
Waterside (HCB3)
PO Box 365
Harmondsworth
UB7 OGB
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8738 6947
Fax: +44( 0) 20 8738 9602