FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
Report of Foreign Issuer
Furnished Pursuant to Rule 13a - 16 or 15d - 16 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the period ending 4 September 2003
BRITISH AIRWAYS Plc
Waterside HBA3, PO Box 365, Harmondsworth UB7 0GB
CONTENTS
1. S198 Notification by the Capital Group
3 September 2003
2. August Traffic and Capacity Statistics
3 September 2003
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
Date: 4 September 2003
Sarah Billington Manager Shareholder Services
SCHEDULE 10
NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES
1. Name of company
British Airways Plc
2. Name of shareholder having a major interest
The Capital Group Companies Inc.
3. Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of holding of the
shareholder named in 2 above or in respect of a non-beneficial interest or in the case of
an individual holder if it is a holding of that person's spouse or children under the age
of 18
As above
4. Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the number of shares
held by each of them
State Street Nominees Limited 5,429,663
Chase Nominees Limited 35,726,400
5. Number of shares / amount of stock acquired
N/A
6. Percentage of issued class
7. Number of shares / amount of stock disposed
12,378,159
8. Percentage of issued class
1.14%
9. Class of security
ordinary shares of 25p
10. Date of transaction
Not known
11. Date company informed
3 September 2003
12. Total holding following this notification
41,156,063
13. Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification
3.80%
14. Any additional information
15. Name of contact and telephone number for queries
Alan Buchanan, 020 8738 5119
16. Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for making this
notification
Alan Buchanan, Company Secretary
Date of notification
3 September 2003
The FSA does not give any express or implied warranty as to the accuracy of this document
or material and does not accept any liability for error or omission. The FSA is not liable
for any damages (including, without limitation, damages for loss of business or loss of
profits) arising in contract, tort or otherwise from the use of or inability to use this
document, or any material contained in it, or from any action or decision taken as a
result of using this document or any such material.
TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS - August 2003
Summary of the headline figures
In August 2003, overall load factor increased 0.1 points to 69.6 per cent. Passenger
capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres, was 3.6 per cent above August 2002 and
traffic, measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres, was higher by 4.8 per cent. This
resulted in a passenger load factor up 0.9 points versus last year, to 77.4 per cent. The
increase in traffic comprised a 1.1 per cent increase in premium traffic and a 5.3 per
cent increase in non-premium traffic. The statistics are distorted by the power outage in
Canada and the East Coast of the United States. Cargo, measured in Cargo Tonne Kilometres,
fell by 0.3 per cent.
Market conditions
Overall market conditions are broadly unchanged with traffic volumes remaining very
sensitive to yield. Premium volumes have stabilised, but are however still significantly
below levels seen previously.
Strategic Developments
British Airways announced further steps to reduce its distribution costs in order to
improve profitability. From December 1, 2003, the airline will introduce a commission
based payment scheme of 1 per cent for UK travel agents who make British Airways'
bookings. This replaces sector payments, which were introduced in April 2001.
The airline announced its first set of codeshare flights with oneworld partner American
Airlines that will ultimately add more than 100 new destinations to its network. The
codeshare routes, on destinations beyond British Airways' 18 US gateway cities and
American Airlines' UK gateways, will be introduced in phases. The first cities are Raleigh
Durham, Nashville, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Minneapolis St Paul, Pittsburgh, New Orleans,
Panama City and San Antonio, bookable now for travel from September 17.
Speedwing International Limited, a subsidiary of British Airways Plc, disposed of its
trading division Speedwing Mobile Communications to AirRadio Limited - a company forming
part of the Spice Holdings Plc Group. The consideration for the sale of the business and
assets is £4.6 million.
British Airways was given permission to start flights to Basra in Iraq. The airline plans
to fly twice a week, via Kuwait, using a Boeing 777 aircraft, once safety and security
clearances have been finalised.
September 3, 2003
BRITISH AIRWAYS MONTHLY TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY STATISTICS
Month of August
Financial year to date
April through August
BRITISH AIRWAYS GROUP Change
Change
SCHEDULED SERVICES 2003 2002 (%)
2003 2002
(%)
Passengers carried (000)
UK/Europe 2234 2240 -0.3
11452 11406
+0.4
Americas 649 614 +5.8
3113 2918
+6.7
Asia Pacific 135 135 -0.5
534 651
-18.1
Africa and Middle East 250 232 +8.1
1092 1027
+6.4
Total 3268 3221 +1.5
16191 16002
+1.2
Revenue passenger km (m)
UK/Europe 1990 1882 +5.7
9649 9213
+4.7
Americas 4314 4130 +4.5
20805 19649
+5.9
Asia Pacific 1415 1395 +1.5
5723 6644
-13.9
Africa and Middle East 1640 1527
+7.4 7302
6807 +7.3
Total 9359 8933 +4.8
43479 42313
+2.8
Available seat km (m)
UK/Europe 2685 2526 +6.3
13708 13033
+5.2
Americas 5503 5359 +2.7
26554 26414
+0.5
Asia Pacific 1834 1779 +3.1
8527 8642
-1.3
Africa and Middle East 2068 2012
+2.8 10066
9958 +1.1
Total 12090 11675 +3.6
58856 58048
+1.4
Passenger load factor (%)
UK/Europe 74.1 74.5 -0.4
pts 70.4 70.7
-0.3 pts
Americas 78.4 77.1 +1.3
pts 78.3 74.4
+3.9 pts
Asia Pacific 77.2 78.4 -1.2
pts 67.1 76.9
-9.8 pts
Africa and Middle East 79.3 75.9
+3.4 pts 72.5
68.4 +4.1 pts
Total 77.4 76.5 +0.9
pts 73.9 72.9
+1.0 pts
Revenue tonne km (RTK) (m)
Cargo tonne km (CTK) 341 342 -0.3
1723 1745
-1.3
Total RTK 1282 1242 +3.3
6068 5974
+1.6
Available tonne km (m) 1842 1787
+3.1 8983
8913 +0.8
Overall load factor (%) 69.6 69.5
+0.1 pts 67.6
67.0 +0.6 pts
* Comparative numbers from 1 July 2002 have been adjusted to remove the impact of dba
following its disposal on 30 June 2003
Certain information included in this statement is forward-looking and involves 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 Companys plans and objectives for future
operations, including, without limitation, discussions of the Companys Future Size and
Shape programme, expected future revenues, financing plans and expected 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 Companys 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. Information on some factors which could result in
material difference to the results is available in the Companys SEC filings, including,
without limitation the Companys Report on Form 20-F for the year ended March 2003.
Investor Relations
Waterside (HCB3)
PO Box 365
Harmondsworth
UB7 OGB
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8738 6947
Fax: +44( 0) 20 8738 9602