06-Oct-2005 1:13 PM
BA says market conditions 'unchanged', Sep-05 passengers up 7.8%
Analysis
LONDON (XFNews) - British Airways PLC said market conditions remain "broadly unchanged" as it reported a 7.8 pct rise in September passenger traffic compared to the same month last year.
The increase, measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPKs), comprised an 11.6 pct increase in premium traffic and a 7.2 pct rise in non-premium.
Passenger capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres (ASKs), was 5.5 pct above Sept 2004. This meant passenger load factor -- passengers as a proportion of the number of seats available -- was up 1.7 points versus last year, to 79.6 pct.
Cargo, measured in Cargo Tonne Kilometres (CTKs) rose 0.5 pct. Consequently overall load factor fell by 0.2 points to 72.2 pct.
For the June to September period, BA's second quarter, ASKs rose 2.2 pct, with RPKs rising 3.7 pct. This resulted in an increase in passenger load factor of 1.1 points, to 79.6 pct.This comprised a 5 pct increase in premium traffic and a 3.5 pct increase in non-premium traffic.
BA is scheduled to publish second-quarter and first-half results on Nov 4.
The airline is forecasting year to end-March 2006 revenue growth of 5.5-6.5 pct. Capacity and volume are expected to increase by "about 3 pct" with total yields flat.
Willie Walsh, the former chief executive of Aer Lingus, succeeded Sir Rod Eddington as BA's CEO on Monday.
At 3.00 pm shares in BA were down 3 pence at 299, valuing the business at 3.38 bln stg.