Thursday, British Airways plc (BAY, BAY.L) posted a slight decline in August traffic, while load factor registered a small increase. The airline noted that market conditions in August remained unchanged, with yields under pressure from the year-over-year impact of lower fuel surcharges, exchange movements and mix.
Traffic, which is measured in revenue passenger kilometers, fell 0.7% to 10.87 billion from 10.95 billion in the same period last year. The company noted that traffic comprised an 11.9% decrease in premium traffic and a 1.3% increase in non-premium traffic.
Passenger capacity, measured in available seat kilometers, declined 2.4% to 12.84 billion from 13.16 billion in the prior-year period.
The company's passenger load factor rose 1.5 points to 84.7% compared with 83.2% in the corresponding four-week period last year. Overall load factor was 77.4%, up by 1.5 points from 75.9% last year.
Total passengers carried during the four-week period were 3.16 million, down 1.7% from 3.21 million in the year ago period.
In August, British Airways said it received approval from shareholders to raise GBP 350 million through bonds, which was completed on August 13.
The airline disclosed that it was increasing flight frequencies to the Caribbean. Accordingly, St Kitts and Grenada will both increase one flight a week to two, and Barbados will move from seven to ten flights a week.
BAY.L is currently trading up 4.50 pence or 2.48% at 186 pence.
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