• In August 2011, Group traffic measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres rose by 2.2 per cent versus August 2010, capacity measured in Available Seat Kilometres was up 2.1 per cent.  
  • Group premium traffic for the month of August grew by 8.7 per cent compared to the previous year, with 1.4 per cent growth in non-premium traffic. 
  • At this stage underlying trends are in line with our expectations, with continued growth in premium versus non-premium volumes.

September 5th, 2011

STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENTS

IAG began the process of launching a new shared currency called Avios for all three travel reward programmes in the group - British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus and Airmiles UK. This is the first step towards creating a world leading, scalable reward platform that will increase incremental profits, drive more loyalty among existing members, attract more members from existing databases and new markets and improve the value of redemption.

Iberia increased frequencies to the city of Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, Iberia now operates six times per week between the two capital cities.

British Airways and Qantas have announced changes to their joint services agreement between the UK and Australia from summer 2012 to strengthen their Singapore hub and maximise the airlines’ respective network strengths. Additionally as part of the changes British Airways will also be raising the frequency of its flights between London and Hong Kong from 28 to 34 a week.

British Airways has launched its biggest pilot recruitment drive for more than 800 new pilots by 2016. The airline will also continue to recruit qualified pilots from other airlines and run a joint initiative with the UK Armed Forces to provide military pilots with a planned career path into commercial aviation.

British Airways World Cargo organised a relief aircraft of emergency supplies and equipment to victims of the food crisis in East Africa. A Boeing 747 freighter carrying just under 110 tonnes of cargo, flew to Ethiopia in early August carrying aid from Oxfam and UNICEF.

Certain information included in these statements 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 Company's plans and objectives for future operations, including, without limitation, discussions of the Company’s Business Plan, 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 Company’s 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. Further information on some of the most important risks in this regard is given in the shareholder documentation in respect of the merger issued on October 26, 2010 and in the Securities Note and Summary issued on January 10, 2011; these documents are available on http://www.iagshares.com/.