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
7 January 2005
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
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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
1. December Traffic and Capacity Statistics - 6 January 2005
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: 7 January 2005 |
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit No. |
Description |
1. |
December Traffic and Capacity Statistics - 6 January 2005 |
TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS - December 2004
Summary of the headline figures
In December 2004, passenger capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres, was 3.9 per cent above December 2003. Traffic, measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres, was higher by 3.2 per cent. This resulted in a passenger load factor down 0.6 points versus last year, to 72.7 per cent. The increase in traffic comprised a 6.8 per cent increase in premium traffic and a 2.7 per cent increase in non-premium traffic. Cargo, measured in Cargo Tonne Kilometres, rose by 9.7 per cent. Overall load factor rose by 0.3 points to 70.3 per cent.
For the October to December quarter, ASKs rose by 1.9 percent, with RPKs rising by 2.0 percent. This resulted in an increase in passenger load factor of 0.1 points, to 72.8 percent. This comprised a 3.5 per cent increase in premium traffic and a 1.8 percent increase in non-premium traffic. CTKs rose by 9.7 per cent.
Market conditions are broadly unchanged.
Costs
As a result of yen appreciation against sterling, there will be a non-cash accounting loss of £6 million in the third quarter financial results.
British Airways and Iberia signed an agreement to develop a joint business on key routes between London and Spain that includes revenue and cost sharing on flights between London Heathrow and Madrid and Barcelona. The deal means the two carriers will now offer a better spread and choice of flight timings on these routes and better connections and shorter journey times for customers travelling to destinations around the world from London Heathrow and Madrid.
A new feature on ba.com means British Airways' customers can now change their flight bookings from their own computer, upgrade class of travel and cancel and arrange a refund of their tickets. Any costs for changes are calculated instantly and are completely transparent.
British Airways opened its first drive-through check-in for Club World passengers and a new exclusive check-in and lounge for First passengers in Barbados.
British Airways' New Year sale featured up to three quarters of a million discounted tickets to more than 65 worldwide destinations with savings of up to £331. Bargains include Venice for £65 return, New York for £199 return and Hong Kong for £399 return.
Alan Burnett was appointed as head of British Airways' UK and Ireland sales and marketing. He replaces David Noyes, who took up the position of director Heathrow.
January 6, 2005
BRITISH AIRWAYS MONTHLY TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS |
|||||||||||||
Month of December |
Financial year to date |
||||||||||||
April through to December |
|||||||||||||
BRITISH AIRWAYS |
Change |
Change |
|||||||||||
SCHEDULED SERVICES |
2004 |
2003 |
(%) |
|
2004 |
2003 |
(%) |
||||||
Passengers carried (000) |
|||||||||||||
UK/Europe |
1734 |
1701 |
+1.9 |
18334 |
18392 |
-0.3 |
|||||||
Americas |
580 |
590 |
-1.7 |
5543 |
5442 |
+1.9 |
|||||||
Asia Pacific |
141 |
135 |
+5.0 |
1252 |
1081 |
+15.8 |
|||||||
Africa and Middle East |
278 |
260 |
+7.1 |
2286 |
2058 |
+11.1 |
|||||||
Total |
2734 |
2686 |
+1.8 |
27416 |
26974 |
+1.6 |
|||||||
Revenue passenger km (m) |
|||||||||||||
UK/Europe |
1533 |
1420 |
+8.0 |
16452 |
15785 |
+4.2 |
|||||||
Americas |
3876 |
3920 |
-1.1 |
37059 |
36333 |
+2.0 |
|||||||
Asia Pacific |
1459 |
1405 |
+3.9 |
12879 |
11469 |
+12.3 |
|||||||
Africa and Middle East |
1879 |
1734 |
+8.4 |
15281 |
13812 |
+10.6 |
|||||||
Total |
8747 |
8478 |
+3.2 |
81671 |
77399 |
+5.5 |
|||||||
Available seat km (m) |
|||||||||||||
UK/Europe |
2459 |
2320 |
+6.0 |
23489 |
22860 |
+2.8 |
|||||||
Americas |
5154 |
5075 |
+1.6 |
47130 |
47299 |
-0.4 |
|||||||
Asia Pacific |
1964 |
1858 |
+5.7 |
17502 |
15854 |
+10.4 |
|||||||
Africa and Middle East |
2449 |
2319 |
+5.6 |
20180 |
18822 |
+7.2 |
|||||||
Total |
12026 |
11572 |
+3.9 |
108301 |
104835 |
+3.3 |
|||||||
Passenger load factor (%) |
|||||||||||||
UK/Europe |
62.4 |
61.2 |
+1.2 |
pts |
70.0 |
69.1 |
+0.9 |
pts |
|||||
Americas |
75.2 |
77.2 |
-2.0 |
pts |
78.6 |
76.8 |
+1.8 |
pts |
|||||
Asia Pacific |
74.3 |
75.6 |
-1.3 |
pts |
73.6 |
72.3 |
+1.3 |
pts |
|||||
Africa and Middle East |
76.7 |
74.8 |
+1.9 |
pts |
75.7 |
73.4 |
+2.3 |
pts |
|||||
Total |
72.7 |
73.3 |
-0.6 |
pts |
75.4 |
73.8 |
+1.6 |
pts |
|||||
Revenue tonne km (RTK) (m) |
|||||||||||||
Cargo tonne km (CTK) |
435 |
396 |
+9.7 |
3738 |
3310 |
+12.9 |
|||||||
Total RTK |
1318 |
1252 |
+5.3 |
11892 |
11056 |
+7.6 |
|||||||
Available tonne km (m) |
1875 |
1790 |
+4.7 |
16943 |
16218 |
+4.5 |
|||||||
Overall load factor (%) |
70.3 |
70.0 |
+0.3 |
pts |
70.2 |
68.2 |
+2.0 |
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