Abu Dhabi: British Airways expects to end the current financial year to March 2009 with a small profit despite being pressured by rising fuel costs and the global economic downturn, Robbie Baird, the UK-based carrier's general manager for Asia-Pacific said here on Wednesday.

"Our fuel bill was $2 billion (Dh7.35 billion) last year and is estimated at $3 billion for this year," said Baird, who was in Abu Dhabi to mark British Airways' 40th anniversary of services to Abu Dhabi.

He said British Airways remains in a cash-rich position at a time when more than 30 airline companies have gone out of business.

"We have taken steps to come out of difficult times in good shape," said Baird. "Our hedging of oil is all below $100 a barrel. For the first half of this (financial) year (April-September), our operating profit was £140 million (Dh789 million) compared with £567 million for the corresponding period last year," he added.

Middle East routes

Baird said British Airways hedged about 77 per cent of its fuel. "We saved hugely in the first half of the year due to hedging," he added.

Furthermore, the first of the Airbus A380 planes will be delivered to British Airways in 2012, he added.

Baird said British Airways is currently flying 56 times a week to the GCC countries.

Separately, British Airways said in a statement it will resume flights from Riyadh and Jeddah to London Heathrow from next March 29.