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
03 February 2006
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)
Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a
Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security
holders.
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)
Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a
Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant
foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the
jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally
organised (the registrant's "home country"), or under the rules of the home
country exchange on which the registrant's securities are traded, as long as the
report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has
not been distributed to the registrant's security holders, and, if discussing a
material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other
Commission filing on EDGAR.
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
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):
CONTENTS
1. January traffic statistics
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 3rd February 2006
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit No. Description
1. January traffic statistics
TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS - January 2006
Summary of the headline figures
In January 2006, passenger capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres, was
3 per cent above January 2005. Traffic, measured in Revenue Passenger
Kilometres, was higher by 3.3 per cent. This resulted in a passenger load
factor up 0.2 points versus last year, to 72.5 per cent. The increase in
traffic comprised a 7.8 per cent increase in premium traffic and a 2.6 per cent
increase in non-premium traffic. Cargo, measured in Cargo Tonne Kilometres, was
flat. Overall load factor was also flat at 68.1 per cent.
Market conditions
Some yield improvement is still expected for this financial year. Consequently,
revenue is now expected to grow by more than 8%.
Despite the improved revenue outlook, market conditions remain broadly unchanged
as significant promotional activity is required to maintain seat factors.
Costs
Underlying costs excluding fuel are now expected to be some 1% higher than the
guidance we gave at the beginning of the year, which was flat.
Fuel costs continue to be a challenge for the industry, but our guidance is
unchanged with total fuel costs expected to be up by GBP525 million this year.
Strategic Developments
British Airways' regional subsidiary, British Airways CitiExpress, was
relaunched as BA Connect in a major drive to improve profitability and compete
more aggressively in the UK regions by offering more choice and lower fares
slashed by more than 40 per cent.
The airline announced that it aims to comply fully with new US government
Advanced Passenger Information legislation by March 7, 2006. The new legislation
requires extra passenger information from all non-US passport holders travelling
to the US including their country of residence and a first night destination
address as well as data found in their passport.
At a speech at the Wings Club in New York, chairman Martin Broughton called on
the United States government to show courage and free the aviation industry from
its regulatory straitjacket by scrapping existing foreign ownership rules. He
challenged the US administration to create a genuine dialogue with Congress over
the potential benefits of allowing overseas companies to take majority stakes in
American carriers.
Ends
February 3, 2006 CW/011/2006
BRITISH AIRWAYS MONTHLY TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS
Month of January Financial year
April through to Jan
BRITISH AIRWAYS Change Change
SCHEDULED SERVICES 2006 2005 (%) 2006 2005 (%)
Passengers carried (000)
UK/Europe 1599 1599 +0.0 19601 19934 -1.7
Americas 562 577 -2.6 6243 6120 +2.0
Asia Pacific 166 147 +12.8 1592 1399 +13.8
Africa and Middle East 318 299 +6.1 2612 2585 +1.0
Total 2644 2622 +0.9 30047 30038 +0.0
Revenue passenger km (m)
UK/Europe 1425 1407 +1.3 18113 17859 +1.4
Americas 3795 3881 -2.2 41925 40940 +2.4
Asia Pacific 1727 1512 +14.2 16407 14391 +14.0
Africa and Middle East 2172 2025 +7.2 17654 17306 +2.0
Total 9119 8825 +3.3 94100 90496 +4.0
Available seat km (m)
UK/Europe 2532 2545 -0.5 26669 26034 +2.4
Americas 5144 5185 -0.8 52816 52315 +1.0
Asia Pacific 2225 1979 +12.4 21367 19481 +9.7
Africa and Middle East 2670 2497 +6.9 22864 22678 +0.8
Total 12571 12206 +3.0 123715 120508 +2.7
Passenger load factor (%)
UK/Europe 56.3 55.3 +1.0 pts 67.9 68.6 -0.7 pts
Americas 73.8 74.8 -1.0 pts 79.4 78.3 +1.1 pts
Asia Pacific 77.6 76.4 +1.2 pts 76.8 73.9 +2.9 pts
Africa and Middle East 81.3 81.1 +0.2 pts 77.2 76.3 +0.9 pts
Total 72.5 72.3 +0.2 pts 76.1 75.1 +1.0 pts
Revenue tonne km (RTK) (m)
Cargo tonne km (CTK) 412 412 +0.0 4100 4148 -1.1
Total RTK 1335 1305 +2.3 13508 13196 +2.4
Available tonne km (m) 1961 1917 +2.3 19326 18865 +2.4
Overall load factor (%) 68.1 68.1 +0.0 pts 69.9 69.9 +0.0 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