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 January 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. December 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 January 2006
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit No. Description
1. December traffic statistics
TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS -December 2005
Summary of the headline figures
In December 2005, passenger capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres, was
2.6 per cent above December 2004. Traffic, measured in Revenue Passenger
Kilometres, was higher by 4.7 per cent. This resulted in a passenger load
factor up 1.5 points versus last year, to 74.2 per cent. The increase in
traffic comprised a 9.3 per cent increase in premium traffic and a 4.1 per cent
increase in non-premium traffic. Cargo, measured in Cargo Tonne Kilometres,
rose by 0.2 per cent. Overall load factor rose by 0.8 points at 71.1 per cent.
For the October to December quarter, ASKs rose by 4 per cent, with RPKs rising
by 5.8 per cent. This resulted in an increase in passenger load factor of 1.3
points, to 74.1 per cent. This comprised a 9.3 per cent increase in premium
traffic and a 5.2 per cent increase in non-premium traffic. CTKs fell by 2.2
per cent.
Market conditions
Market conditions remain broadly unchanged, as significant promotional activity
is required to deliver seat factors.
Strategic Developments
Two BA employees were dismissed after being found guilty of gross misconduct for
playing leading roles in orchestrating un-balloted and illegal industrial action
at Heathrow airport during the summer in support of employees dismissed from the
airline's catering supplier, Gate Gourmet.
A third employee, also found guilty of gross misconduct, was issued with a final
written warning, suspended without pay for one month and banned from staff air
travel privileges.
The House of Lords ruled that legal action against British Airways, and other
airlines, is unfounded under the terms of the Warsaw Convention in relation to
claims for compensation for the occurrence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The
House of Lords is the final court of appeal for UK civil cases. This means that
the decision is final and no claims for injury or death caused by DVT during the
normal operation of an aircraft can now be brought against airlines in the UK.
The withdrawal of BA's daily service from London Heathrow to Melbourne via
Singapore from March 25, 2006, was announced. Melbourne flights will transfer to
Qantas as part of the Joint Services Agreement. Qantas will now operate two
daily flights to Melbourne, one via Singapore and one via Hong Kong.
Services from Gatwick to Grenoble, five times a week, began with prices from
GBP79 return.
More than 1.5 million discounted tickets were announced in a World Offers sale
for travel on selected dates between 5th January and 9th December 2006.
Longhaul prices start from GBP249 to New York (a saving of GBP131 on the current
fare), Cairo and Abu Dhabi from GBP279, Orlando from GBP299 (a saving of
GBP170), Barbados from GBP399 (a saving of GBP223) and Hong Kong from GBP399 (a
saving of GBP137).
ends
January 5, 2006
003/KG/06
BRITISH AIRWAYS MONTHLY TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS
Month of December Financial year
April through to Dec
BRITISH AIRWAYS Change Change
SCHEDULED SERVICES 2005 2004 (%) 2005 2004 (%)
Passengers carried (000)
UK/Europe 1680 1734 -3.1 18001 18334 -1.8
Americas 585 580 +0.8 5682 5543 +2.5
Asia Pacific 164 141 +15.8 1426 1252 +13.9
Africa and Middle East 299 278 +7.4 2294 2286 +0.3
Total 2728 2734 -0.2 27402 27416 -0.1
Revenue passenger km (m)
UK/Europe 1505 1533 -1.8 16687 16452 +1.4
Americas 3915 3876 +1.0 38131 37059 +2.9
Asia Pacific 1703 1459 +16.7 14680 12879 +14.0
Africa and Middle East 2039 1879 +8.5 15482 15281 +1.3
Total 9162 8747 +4.7 84981 81671 +4.1
Available seat km (m)
UK/Europe 2402 2459 -2.3 24138 23489 +2.8
Americas 5048 5154 -2.0 47673 47130 +1.2
Asia Pacific 2224 1964 +13.3 19142 17502 +9.4
Africa and Middle East 2669 2449 +9.0 20194 20180 +0.1
Total 12343 12026 +2.6 111146 108301 +2.6
Passenger load factor (%)
UK/Europe 62.7 62.4 +0.3 pts 69.1 70.0 -0.9 pts
Americas 77.5 75.2 +2.3 pts 80.0 78.6 +1.4 pts
Asia Pacific 76.6 74.3 +2.3 pts 76.7 73.6 +3.1 pts
Africa and Middle East 76.4 76.7 -0.3 pts 76.7 75.7 +1.0 pts
Total 74.2 72.7 +1.5 pts 76.5 75.4 +1.1 pts
Revenue tonne km (RTK) (m)
Cargo tonne km (CTK) 436 435 +0.2 3685 3738 -1.4
Total RTK 1361 1318 +3.3 12169 11892 +2.3
Available tonne km (m) 1914 1875 +2.1 17354 16943 +2.4
Overall load factor (%) 71.1 70.3 +0.8 pts 70.1 70.2 -0.1 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