A Lurker
...in fact our passenger numbers where (sic) down circa 0.2%...
Only if the FT article quoted has got its figures wrong!
The percentage decrease in passengers carried on these two months is a simple calculation, one that is completely unaffected by any of the various reasons for the decline, and is just based on the two numbers.
Some, or even all, of this percentage decrease, may very well have been caused by a reduction in available capacity; and you correctly explained how it is quite possible for the load factor to rise at the same time; but that does not mean the FT was wrong.
The FT said that the number of worldwide passenger carried by BA, in Dec 2009, was 2.4 million, and that this was a 4.4% slide (reduction) from the passenger numbers carried in Dec 2008. The inference to be drawn is that BA carried around 2.51 million passengers in Dec 2008.
You stated that passenger numbers are down by only circa 0.2%, implying that the figures quoted by the FT are wrong.
Is that what you mean to say - that the FT figures are wrong – if so, could you please give us the correct figures and quote your source?
Best Regards
Bellerophon