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


                                08 December 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

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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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)

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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

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connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):




                                    CONTENTS

1. Lift off with new engine deal




                                   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  08 December 2005



                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS



Exhibit No.                 Description


1.                          Lift off with new engine deal






Lift off with new engine deal



British Airways has agreed a GBP1.5 billion engine maintenance contract with
General Electric Company (GE), one of the largest engineering contracts awarded
in the airline's history.



The ten-year agreement will see GE responsible for the maintenance, overhaul and
repair for the airline's RB211-524 and CFM56 engines.



The Rolls-Royce RB211 engines power British Airways 57 Boeing 747s and 21 767s.
The CFM56 engines power the airline's 32 Boeing 737s and ten of its 26 Airbus
A320 aircraft.

The CFM56 engines are produced by CFM International, a GE / Snecma 50/50 joint
company.



The new agreement replaces an existing contract with GE, which was due to expire
at the end of this year.



The agreement could see GE carry out more than 800 overhauls or repairs on
British Airways' fleet of RB211 and CFM56-3/5 engines.



All of the work will be performed at GE's engine maintenance facility in
Nantgarw, Wales, which employs more than 850 people.



Garry Copeland, general manager engineering services at British Airways, said:
"In signing this agreement GE has committed to delivering a quality service
providing safe and secure operations, on time and at a price which meets our
business need.



"We have every confidence that the GE underlying philosophy of continuous
improvement will deliver the high level of service British Airways requires for
the future."



Brad Mottier, vice president and general manager of engine services operation at
GE - Aviation said: "We have a long-standing relationship with British Airways.
The agreement shows the continued confidence that the airline has in our
high-quality capabilities and will help us to maintain a steady flow of work at
our Wales facility."



The signing of the agreement follows a two-year review by British Airways of its
engine maintenance arrangements.



GE was selected after an online competitive bidding process.



The Nantgarw facility performs maintenance, repair and overhaul work on GE90,
CFM56-3, CFM56-5, CFM56-7, RB211-524 and RB211-535 engine types.



Ends



8 December, 2005                 139/JM/2005


For more information:            British Airways Press Office 0208 738 5100