Press releases 1999

25 January 1999

NEW TERMINALS AT HEATHROW AIRPORT
'Passengers can take stock of share prices before they take off'

Business travellers through Terminal One at London's Heathrow airport will, from Monday January 25, be able to access London Stock Exchange market prices and company news - in real time - in British Airways' business lounges.

The new service provides information on over 3,000 listed companies from more than 60 countries worldwide. It is available free of charge to British Airways business flyers - many of whom are executives of listed companies.

The first computer terminals, provided by Reuters and Datastream/ICV, will be installed in the Domestic and European Lounges at Heathrow's Terminal One. Last year alone over one million passengers passed through the two business lounges. Later in the year the Exchange plans to extend the service to BA lounges in Terminal Four.

Business passengers will be able to access the latest news on all the companies quoted on the London Stock Exchange, view real-time prices for these stocks, check stock market indices and exchange rates, and catch up on other major news from around the world.

Commenting on the new venture, Martin George, British Airways Director of Marketing, said: "This will be a very useful business tool for our most valued customers and we are delighted to be the first airline to offer this unique service."

The Exchange said: "This partnership between British Airways and the London Stock Exchange brings together the world's favourite airline and the world's leading international equity market.

"Business people will now be able to keep in touch with the fast-moving events affecting their companies, even when they are travelling. The new service will further increase the accessibility of our markets for thousands of business passengers passing through London each day."

Editors' notes:

1. The type of specialist market information that will be accessible is currently only available to customers of the London Stock Exchange or from information vendors, like Datastream/ICV or Reuters, which are licensed by the Exchange to distribute this service to business customers.
2. Posters advertising the new service will use the slogan 'Take stock before you take off' to encourage business flyers to try out the new terminals.
3. Reuters supplies the global financial markets and news media with information and news products including real-time financial data, collective investment data, numerical, textual, historical and graphical databases plus news and graphics reaching 457,000 users located in 57,200 organisations.
4. Datastream/ICV provides real-time and historical information services. The TOPIC3 real-time equity and news service is used by 70% of the UK equity trading community.