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 June 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. Traffic statistics May 2006
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 June 2006
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit No. Description
1. Traffic statistics May 2006
TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS - May 2006
Summary of the headline figures
In May 2006, passenger capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres, was 5.1
per cent above May 2005. Traffic, measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres, was
higher by 6.9 per cent. This resulted in a passenger load factor up 1.3 points
versus last year, to 74.5 per cent. The increase in traffic comprised a 13.9 per
cent increase in premium traffic and a 5.7 per cent increase in non-premium
traffic. Cargo, measured in Cargo Tonne Kilometres, increased by 2.3 per cent.
Overall load factor increased by 0.7 points to 68.4 per cent.
Market conditions
Market conditions remain broadly unchanged as significant promotional activity
is required to maintain seat factors.
Strategic Developments
British Airways announced a pre-tax profit of GBP620 million for the year to
March 31, 2006 (2005: GBP513 million profit). The pre-tax profit for the fourth
quarter was GBP91 million (2005: GBP6 million loss). Operating profit for the
year was GBP705 million (2005: GBP556 million profit) and GBP93 million for the
quarter (2005: GBP46 million profit).
The company's accounting valuation of its main pension scheme, the New Airways
Pension Scheme (NAPS), showed a deficit of GBP2,070 million at March 31, 2006,
up GBP101 million on the previous year. The accounting deficit reflects low
long-term interest rates and has gone up despite the company's increased
contributions and strong equity markets.
British Airways welcomed the statement from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
that it will protect customers at BAA airports from being overcharged to fund
payments to the airport operator's shareholders during its current bid battle.
The CAA is currently consulting on the level of user charges at Heathrow,
Gatwick and Stansted airports for a five year period from April 2008 in its role
as economic regulator.
The airline launched a promotion offering savings of up to GBP1,250 on Club
World return fares to 58 long haul destinations this summer including New York,
Singapore and all Caribbean destinations.
Ends
June 5, 2006
043/CW/2006
BRITISH AIRWAYS MONTHLY TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS
Month of May Financial year
April through to May
BRITISH AIRWAYS Change Change
SCHEDULED SERVICES 2006 2005 (%) 2006 2005 (%)
Passengers carried (000)
UK/Europe 2050 2030 +1.0 4009 3953 +1.4
Americas 668 635 +5.2 1338 1258 +6.4
Asia Pacific 144 133 +8.9 304 273 +11.6
Africa and Middle East 267 225 +18.5 546 464 +17.8
Total 3129 3023 +3.5 6198 5947 +4.2
Revenue passenger km (m)
UK/Europe 1931 1903 +1.5 3779 3656 +3.4
Americas 4499 4247 +6.0 9012 8405 +7.2
Asia Pacific 1455 1374 +5.9 3061 2817 +8.6
Africa and Middle East 1777 1513 +17.4 3640 3112 +17.0
Total 9662 9037 +6.9 19493 17991 +8.4
Available seat km (m)
UK/Europe 2727 2796 -2.5 5319 5481 -3.0
Americas 5673 5393 +5.2 11146 10648 +4.7
Asia Pacific 2078 1994 +4.2 4095 3923 +4.4
Africa and Middle East 2494 2160 +15.4 4897 4272 +14.6
Total 12972 12344 +5.1 25457 24324 +4.7
Passenger load factor (%)
UK/Europe 70.8 68.0 +2.8 pts 71.0 66.7 +4.3 pts
Americas 79.3 78.7 +0.6 pts 80.9 78.9 +2.0 pts
Asia Pacific 70.0 68.9 +1.1 pts 74.7 71.8 +2.9 pts
Africa and Middle East 71.3 70.0 +1.3 pts 74.3 72.8 +1.5 pts
Total 74.5 73.2 +1.3 pts 76.6 74.0 +2.6 pts
Revenue tonne km (RTK) (m)
Cargo tonne km (CTK) 411 401 +2.3 820 795 +3.2
Total RTK 1374 1303 +5.5 2760 2585 +6.8
Available tonne km (m) 2009 1925 +4.4 3954 3799 +4.1
Overall load factor (%) 68.4 67.7 +0.7 pts 69.8 68.1 +1.7 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