FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
FURNISHED PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 UNDER
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
5 October 2004
BRITISH AIRWAYS Plc
(Registrant's Name)
Waterside HBA3,
PO Box 365
Harmondsworth UB7 0GB
United Kingdom
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F X Form 40-F
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule101(b)(1)
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Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7)
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Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes No X
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CONTENTS
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorised.
BRITISH AIRWAYS Plc |
|
By: /s/_______________________________ |
Name: Alan Buchanan |
Title: Company Secretary |
Date: 5 October, 2004 |
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit No. |
Description |
1. |
Traffic and Capacity Statistics September 2004 - 5 October 2004 |
TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS - September 2004
Summary of the headline figures
In September 2004, passenger capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres, was 0.6 per cent above September 2003 and traffic, measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres, was higher by 3.6 per cent. This resulted in a passenger load factor up 2.2 points versus last year, to 77.9 per cent. The increase in traffic comprised a 0.2 per cent decrease in premium traffic and a 4.2 per cent increase in non-premium traffic. Cargo, measured in Cargo Tonne Kilometres, rose by 13.6 per cent. Overall load factor rose by 3.8 points to 72.4 per cent.
For the July to September quarter, ASKs rose by 2.1 percent, with RPKs rising by 4.7 percent. This resulted in an increase in passenger load factor of 2.0 points, to 78.4 percent. This comprised a 4.6 per cent increase in premium traffic and a 4.7 percent increase in non-premium traffic. CTKs rose by 19.3 per cent.
Market conditions
Market conditions remain unchanged. Longhaul premium volumes are recovering, while shorthaul premium travel remains at lower levels. Non-premium volumes are very price-sensitive. Revenue is still expected to be some 2-3 per cent higher in this financial year
Costs
As a result of Yen depreciation against sterling, there will be a non-cash accounting credit of £5 million in the second quarter financial results.
British Airways completed the sale of its 18.25 per cent shareholding in Qantas. The gross sale proceeds were A$1.1 billion (approximately £430 million) which the airline received on 14 September. The airline expects to use the proceeds to repay part of its existing gross debt which at June 30, 2004 amounted to £5.6 billion.
British Airways announced a series of measures to improve operational performance.
The winter schedule was announced and includes new services to Switzerland, Greece, Croatia and Lithuania.
British Airways' has introduced a bistro style restaurant at New York's JFK airport for business passengers to sample dishes created by UK based Michelin starred chefs including Richard Corrigan of The Lindsay House in London, Vineet Bhatia from Rasoi in London and Shaun Hill from The Merchant House in Ludlow.
British Airway celebrated 65 years of operations to Birmingham, 45 years to Moscow and 20 years to Cape Town.
The airline swept the board at the Business Traveller magazine awards ceremony, picking up seven awards including best airline, best first class, best business class, best economy class, best longhaul airline, best shorthaul airline and best frequent flyer programme. The oneworld alliance won the best airline alliance.
Marketing magazine voted BA one of the UK's best loved brands.
British Airways announced it is to change the timetable of some of its monthly traffic statistics updates to co-incide with its quarterly financial results.
October 5, 2004
BRITISH AIRWAYS MONTHLY TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS |
|||||||||||||
Month of September |
Financial year to date |
||||||||||||
April through September |
|||||||||||||
BRITISH AIRWAYS GROUP |
Change |
Change |
|||||||||||
SCHEDULED SERVICES |
2004 |
2003 |
(%) |
|
2004 |
2003 |
(%) |
||||||
Passengers carried (000) |
|||||||||||||
UK/Europe |
2122 |
2123 |
-0.0 |
12834 |
12849 |
-0.1 |
|||||||
Americas |
599 |
588 |
+1.8 |
3849 |
3703 |
+4.0 |
|||||||
Asia Pacific |
146 |
137 |
+6.5 |
823 |
671 |
+22.8 |
|||||||
Africa and Middle East |
257 |
236 |
+8.7 |
1494 |
1329 |
+12.5 |
|||||||
Total |
3123 |
3085 |
+1.3 |
19001 |
18550 |
+2.4 |
|||||||
Revenue passenger km (m) |
|||||||||||||
UK/Europe |
1925 |
1850 |
+4.1 |
11614 |
11119 |
+4.5 |
|||||||
Americas |
4005 |
3941 |
+1.6 |
25715 |
24750 |
+3.9 |
|||||||
Asia Pacific |
1502 |
1450 |
+3.6 |
8466 |
7172 |
+18.0 |
|||||||
Africa and Middle East |
1702 |
1578 |
+7.9 |
9900 |
8880 |
+11.5 |
|||||||
Total |
9134 |
8818 |
+3.6 |
55695 |
51921 |
+7.3 |
|||||||
Available seat km (m) |
|||||||||||||
UK/Europe |
2610 |
2554 |
+2.2 |
15914 |
15553 |
+2.3 |
|||||||
Americas |
5072 |
5278 |
-3.9 |
31888 |
31834 |
+0.2 |
|||||||
Asia Pacific |
1923 |
1776 |
+8.2 |
11618 |
10303 |
+12.8 |
|||||||
Africa and Middle East |
2121 |
2047 |
+3.6 |
13192 |
12113 |
+8.9 |
|||||||
Total |
11726 |
11655 |
+0.6 |
72612 |
69804 |
+4.0 |
|||||||
Passenger load factor (%) |
|||||||||||||
UK/Europe |
73.8 |
72.5 |
+1.3 |
pts |
73.0 |
71.5 |
+1.5 |
pts |
|||||
Americas |
79.0 |
74.7 |
+4.3 |
pts |
80.6 |
77.7 |
+2.9 |
pts |
|||||
Asia Pacific |
78.1 |
81.6 |
-3.5 |
pts |
72.9 |
69.6 |
+3.3 |
pts |
|||||
Africa and Middle East |
80.2 |
77.1 |
+3.1 |
pts |
75.0 |
73.3 |
+1.7 |
pts |
|||||
Total |
77.9 |
75.7 |
+2.2 |
pts |
76.7 |
74.4 |
+2.3 |
pts |
|||||
Revenue tonne km (RTK) (m) |
|||||||||||||
Cargo tonne km (CTK) |
412 |
363 |
+13.6 |
2416 |
2087 |
+15.8 |
|||||||
Total RTK |
1325 |
1246 |
+6.3 |
7973 |
7284 |
+9.5 |
|||||||
Available tonne km (m) |
1831 |
1817 |
+0.8 |
11339 |
10730 |
+5.7 |
|||||||
Overall load factor (%) |
72.4 |
68.6 |
+3.8 |
pts |
70.3 |
67.9 |
+2.4 |
pts |
Certain statements included in this statement may be forward-looking and may involve 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 and financing plans, expected future revenues and 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.
Investor Relations
Waterside (HCB3)
PO Box 365
Harmondsworth
UB7 OGB
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8738 6947
Fax: +44( 0) 20 8738 9602