Hopes of growth grounded at BA

BRITISH Airways will have to wait for its much hoped-for return to growth as latest figures showed the apparent recovery in international travel stalled last month. But there were signs of a better performance in its lucrative business and first class cabins.

Although the early Easter weekend skewed figures, monthly statistics show the number of passengers carried by BA in April was down 10.8% from 12 months ago. That compares with the 3.4% year-on-year decrease in March.

The figures, however, showed the number of premium-paying passengers down just 3.4% in April against March's shortfall of 9.2%. The airline's other key market, transatlantic services, posted an 8.5% drop in the month.

'Underlying traffic levels continue to be stable with seat factor improving slightly,; said BA, which after capacity cuts flew at an average 69.4% full, 0.7 percentage points higher. BA shares today dipped 1p to 237 1/2p.