BRITISH AIRWAYS new chief executive Willie Walsh has started his tenure with a set of quarterly figures described by the former Aer Lingus boss as as "a reasonable set of results". A pre-tax profit of ”241m (2004: ”293m) was recorded for three months ending 30 September 2005. The 2004 interim benefited by ”86m from the sale of shares in Qantas. The figures for the half-year were ”365m profit (2004: ”368m). The cost of the Gate Gourmet dispute and the associated industrial action was estimated at between ”35-”45m. BA points out that the airline also suffered operational disruption in the same period of last year. British Airways notes, clearly with some reluctance, that no interim dividend would be paid (see Ryanair below). The company's Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2005 are available on
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