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
05 April 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
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permitted by Regulation S-T Rule101(b)(1)
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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
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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
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report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has
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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
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connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):
CONTENTS
1. March 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 05 April 2006
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit No. Description
1. March traffic statistics
TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS - March 2006
Summary of the headline figures
In March 2006, passenger capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres, was
2.5 per cent above March 2005. Traffic, measured in Revenue Passenger
Kilometres, was higher by 1.8 per cent. This resulted in a passenger load
factor down 0.5 points versus last year, to 75.2 per cent. The increase in
traffic comprised a 15 per cent increase in premium traffic and a 0.4 per cent
decrease in non-premium traffic. Cargo, measured in Cargo Tonne Kilometres,
rose by 3.5 per cent. Overall load factor fell by 0.2 points to 70.5 per cent.
The timing of Easter this year has benefited premium volumes and reduced
non-premium volumes in March. This effect will reverse next month
For the January to March quarter, ASKs rose by 2.8 per cent, with RPKs rising by
2.9 per cent. This resulted in an increase in passenger load factor of 0.1
points, to 73.1 per cent. This comprised a 10.1per cent increase in premium
traffic and a 1.6 per cent increase in non-premium traffic. CTKs rose by 0.9
per cent.
Market conditions
Market conditions remain broadly unchanged as significant promotional activity
is required to maintain seat factors.
Strategic Developments
The company announced a proposal to clear the GBP1 billion past service
actuarial deficit in its New Airways Pension Scheme (NAPS). The proposal is
based on a final salary pension scheme with no changes to past service benefits
or staff contribution rates but with changes to members' future benefits. The
airline will make a payment of GBP500 million into NAPS after the changes are
accepted.
The airline announced its two year business plan to March 2008 to drive down
costs and strengthen customer service. It is targeting a GBP450 million
reduction in costs with GBP225 to be delivered in each year. It also included
investment of nearly GBP200 million in new products.
BA announced the restructure of parts of its UK direct sales operations with the
proposed closure of British Airways' Travel Shops and the airline's Belfast
based customer call centre by August 2006. The move comes in response to
changing customer behaviour and increased sales on its ba.com website.
The summer 2006 schedule was announced with British Airways' first ever flights
to Tirana in Albania and Varna on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast. Four other new
destinations from London Gatwick airport include Reykjavik in Iceland, Izmir in
Turkey, Kiev in the Ukraine and Athens, Greece.
The airline announced a series of service enhancements to be introduced ahead of
its move into Heathrow airport's Terminal 5. The first change will be launched
from April 25, when the airline introduces self-service check-in for all
customers travelling on UK domestic flights.
Customers planning to visit the United States from March 7 are being urged to
input relevant data on ba.com or via their travel agent to comply with the new
Advanced Passenger Information (API), introduced for all passengers flying to
the US.
ends
April 5, 2006 028/TC/06
BRITISH AIRWAYS MONTHLY TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS
Month of March Financial year
April through to March
BRITISH AIRWAYS Change Change
SCHEDULED SERVICES 2006 2005 (%) 2006 2005 (%)
Passengers carried (000)
UK/Europe 1871 1935 -3.3 23086 23491 -1.7
Americas 610 615 -0.9 7337 7227 +1.5
Asia Pacific 166 152 +9.5 1906 1683 +13.3
Africa and Middle East 294 280 +5.0 3182 3122 +1.9
Total 2941 2981 -1.3 35511 35523 -0.0
Revenue passenger km (m)
UK/Europe 1677 1725 -2.8 21212 21010 +1.0
Americas 4115 4127 -0.3 49304 48368 +1.9
Asia Pacific 1702 1582 +7.6 19634 17333 +13.3
Africa and Middle East 2002 1890 +5.9 21554 20938 +2.9
Total 9496 9324 +1.8 111704 107649 +3.8
Available seat km (m)
UK/Europe 2590 2616 -1.0 31587 30995 +1.9
Americas 5224 5255 -0.6 62674 62227 +0.7
Asia Pacific 2178 1988 +9.5 25545 23261 +9.8
Africa and Middle East 2635 2463 +7.0 27917 27404 +1.9
Total 12627 12323 +2.5 147723 143888 +2.7
Passenger load factor (%)
UK/Europe 64.8 65.9 -1.1 pts 67.2 67.8 -0.6 pts
Americas 78.8 78.5 +0.3 pts 78.7 77.7 +1.0 pts
Asia Pacific 78.2 79.6 -1.4 pts 76.9 74.5 +2.4 pts
Africa and Middle East 76.0 76.7 -0.7 pts 77.2 76.4 +0.8 pts
Total 75.2 75.7 -0.5 pts 75.6 74.8 +0.8 pts
Revenue tonne km (RTK) (m)
Cargo tonne km (CTK) 457 442 +3.5 4928 4951 -0.5
Total RTK 1402 1369 +2.4 16086 15704 +2.4
Available tonne km (m) 1989 1935 +2.8 23076 22528 +2.4
Overall load factor (%) 70.5 70.7 -0.2 pts 69.7 69.7 +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