BA plays down passenger surge
PASSENGERS, especially those heading towards the first class and business cabin, are beginning to board British Airways aircraft again.
The flag carrier reported a 28% surge in the number of 'premium' passengers during April, with the number of people flying economy up 14%.
But the airline urged investors not to get excited as the figures compare with the shocking April 2003 monthly statistics when the world stopped flying, fearful of the the Iraq war and Sars. Last April saw a 25% collapse in premium passengers at BA.
The airline said: 'Market conditions are unchanged. Long-haul premium volumes continue above last year's levels and short-haul premium remains weak.'
The number of passengers flying BA in the UK or shorthaul in Europe was up 2% but the airline added that, in common with every other carrier, winning economy passengers is coming down to ticket price.
A day after a trading warning from easyJet, Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary reiterated the gloomy outlook.
'We expect the coming year to be tough and the winter to be particularly difficult,' he said, sending Ryanair shares down towards a two-year low, off 11 cents at e4.42.
National Air Traffic Services said today transatlantic flight volumes have finally recovered to pre-9.11 levels.
The air traffic controller said there had been a year-on-year 9% increase in international flights into and over the UK in April, showing the strongest level of flights across the North Atlantic since terrorist atrocities sent the aviation market into recession.
