BA passenger numbers defy strike threat

British Airways passenger figures held up well last month (PA)

British Airways passenger figures held up well last month despite pre-August fears that the airline's ongoing cabin crew dispute could cause travel disruption.

BA carried 3,154,000 passengers in August 2010 - only a fraction fewer than the 3,157,000 in August 2009.

There had been concerns that cabin crew strikes might have been called that would have affected August Bank Holiday travel.

But the month passed without any industrial action, with passenger figures suggesting that forward bookings were not badly affected by the threat of strikes.

BA's UK and European route passenger numbers rose 1.8% last month compared with August 2009. Asia Pacific traffic fell 11.1%, while North and South America numbers - including the Caribbean - were down 2.9% and Africa and Middle East passengers fell 0.1%.

BA's planes flew 84.4% full last month compared with a figure of 84.7% in August 2009.