BA's pre-tax profits for the first quarter of 2006-7 rose by 57% to £195m compared to £124m for the same period a year ago.
Britain's national flag carrier also reported that operating profits for the three month period increased by 20% from £176m in 2005-6 to £211m.
For the same period, revenue rose by12.5% to £2.3bn.
Willie Walsh, BA's ceo, said the "good results" were driven by "strong revenue as a result of record seat factors and better cabin mix."
He said that during the three months, fuel costs rose by 44% to £512m and staff costs rose by 7% because of increased pension costs.
Martin Broughton, BA's chairman, said he expected the strong revenues to continue.
"For the year to March 2007, total revenue is expected to improve by 6-7% up from previous guidance of 5-6%.
"Capacity growth in the first half of the year is expected to be about 4% slowing in the second half of the year to achieve a full year increase of 2.5-3%.
Mr Walsh said that BA's new short haul low fares had been a big success.
He added: "While competition in this market is brutal I am delighted to see we are winning customers with record seat factors. We're now even more competitive on price whilst keeping ahead of the game by offering full service flights, more frequently to more convenient airports."
He said there was also "steady progress" on working practices ahead of the airline's move into the new Terminal Five at Heathrow in 2008 including agreements with several different groups of workers.
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