London, United Kingdom: International Airlines Group (IAG), the owner of British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus and Vueling, reported a sharp increase in profits for the first half of 2025 as resilient travel demand particularly in premium cabins outpaced lingering concerns over slowing economy bookings.
The airline conglomerate posted an operating profit of €1.9 billion for the six months ending June 30, up 43.5% from the previous year. Net profit rose to €1.301 billion, compared with €905 million in the same period of 2024, while revenues climbed 8% to €15.9 billion. Second-quarter performance alone showed strong momentum, with an operating profit of €1.68 billion, beating analysts’ expectations of €1.4 billion, and revenues of €8.8 billion, up 6.8%. IAG credited cost efficiencies and fuel savings of about €291 million as additional drivers of the earnings surge. Passenger revenue advanced 4.9%, reflecting robust demand on North Atlantic and European leisure routes, despite softer bookings in economy class from the U.S. market.
“Premium travel continues to show resilience and remains a key margin driver, particularly on transatlantic routes where British Airways maintains a leading position,” said IAG Chief Executive Luis Gallego as per Reuters in a post-results briefing. He noted that while broader consumer spending patterns are shifting, business and high-end leisure travel are “holding up strongly” and underpinning the group’s financial performance.
IAG announced it has returned around €1.5 billion to shareholders so far this year, through a mix of dividends and share buybacks. Its shares have gained more than 130% over the past 12 months, outperforming many European airline peers as investors bet on the sustained rebound in global air travel and continued profit growth. The group reaffirmed its full-year guidance, citing confidence in further earnings expansion and margin stability, even as geopolitical uncertainties and consumer spending patterns remain under scrutiny.
Alongside the earnings announcement, IAG renewed its criticism of Heathrow Airport’s £49 billion expansion plan, which includes a proposed £21 billion third runway. Chief Executive Gallego warned that the regulatory model underpinning Heathrow’s investment plans could lead to a “doubling of passenger charges” and risk underutilisation of the additional capacity. British Airways Chief Executive Sean Doyle argued that expansion must be paired with cost efficiency, pointing out that Heathrow already ranks among the most expensive hub airports globally. “Passengers cannot be expected to bear unsustainable fees just to support infrastructure growth,” Doyle said.
IAG has voiced support for alternative proposals, including one from the privately backed Arora Group, and has called for regulatory reforms to prevent passengers from shouldering disproportionate costs. The strong half-year results come as airlines across Europe continue to benefit from a robust travel recovery, with consumers prioritising leisure and experiential spending even as other discretionary sectors slow. However, analysts caution that competition on short-haul routes, potential economic cooling, and rising labour costs could test the sector’s profitability in the coming quarters.
