Load factor in British Airways falls

British Airways stated its passenger load factor - the amount of capacity taken up - fell 2.1 percentage points in April, but that the airline boosted its capacity by 0.5 percent in the same month.

Photo: Load factor in British Airways falls

Passenger load factor slipped to 76.9 percent in April, the company said in a statement. Overall load factor - which includes cargo - fell 0.7 percentage points to 70.9 percent.

"Underlying market conditions are broadly unchanged," British Airways said.

British Airways said last month it has contacted private equity investors about joining in a possible bid for Spanish airline Iberia SA.

Iberia announced in March that it had been approached about a possible takeover offer worth more than 3.4 billion EUR(US$4.6 billion) from U.S. private equity firm TPG Capital LLP, formerly known as the Texas Pacific Group.

British Airways shares fell 1.7 percent to 510 pence (US$10.17; 7.48 EUR) on the London Stock Exchange.