LONDON (AP) - British Airways said yesterday that passenger traffic rose 5.3 percent in February, led by a 15.1 percent increase in premium traffic.

The airline's load factor rose 0.6 percentage point to 68.4 percent, and capacity was up by 4.4 percent at a time when the company is preparing to open a new terminal at London's Heathrow Airport.

The company cautioned that comparisons with February 2007 were skewed by the extra day this year and by the threat of strike action early in the month.

Long-haul premium traffic is strong, but short-haul premium and long-haul non-premium markets continue to be weak, British Airways said.

The company's shares were up four percent at 260.5 pence (3.40 euros, US$5.17) on London's Stock Exchange.