Summary of the headline figures
Capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres, fell by 3.4 per cent in November. Traffic, measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres, also fell by 3.4 per cent comprising a 1.2 per cent growth in premium traffic and a 4.4 per cent decline in non-premium traffic. Overall traffic levels were affected by adverse weather early in the month. Premium traffic continues to be affected by the suspension of Concorde services. Club World traffic remained strong. Passenger load factor was unchanged. Cargo, measured in Revenue Tonne Kilometres, decreased by 1.8%.

Market conditions
Overall trading conditions remained good. While traffic volumes may slow with capacity reductions, the pricing environment continues to be favourable. The UK domestic business has been strong in the month driven by rail disruptions. The outlook for December is for increases in non premium traffic when compared to the previous the year when the millennium effect hit non premium traffic more than premium traffic.

Strategic developments
On November 6 British Airways announced that it was to restructure its operations at Gatwick into a largely point to point business. British Airways also announced its intention to sell GO, its no frills subsidiary, and to better integrate its various shorthaul operations.

21st Century air travel arrived in Japan with the launch of the new Club World flat beds and World Traveller Plus on services between London Heathrow and Tokyo.

British Airways unveiled its new look cabin for First passengers. The investment includes new interiors, designed by Kelly Hoppen, improvements to seat cushioning and bedding, and in-seat telephones and lap-top power.

British Airways announced that it has selected internet consulting firm, iXL, to work with it to develop and implement its future e-Commerce services. The agreement will begin with work on the redesign of British Airways’ global website and the implementation of a new content management system, which are both due to be complete by Spring 2001.

British Airways announced the appointment of a new Managing Director of Air Miles. Drew Thomson, who has worked at British Airways for five years, will be responsible for managing both BA Miles (the new currency for Executive Club members) and Air Miles in order to offer customers and clients the choice of two loyalty schemes.

British Airways and Finnair have extended their code-sharing agreement to include a first ‘joint’ longhaul route. Finnair’s AY flight code has been added to one of British Airways’ two daily services between London Heathrow and Toronto. The two airlines currently codeshare on services between the UK and Finland and some domestic and shorthaul connections, with the BA prefix added to 47 Finnair flights to 11 destinations, and Finnair’s AY code added to 39 British Airways services to ten destinations.

The British Airways London Eye carried its three millionth passenger.

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