The International Airlines Group (IAG) made a net profit of EUR 2,264 million between January and September, minus 16.2% than in the same period due to the increase in fuel cost.
© Lusa
06/11/2026
by
Lusa
O air group International Airlines Group (IAG) recorded a net profit of EUR 2,264 million between January and September, minus 16,2% less than in the same period due to increased fuel cost.
According to the information released today by the group, to which the companies Iberia, British Airways, Vueling, Aer Lingus and Level belong, the increase in revenue by 2.3% to EUR 25.808 million, driven by the rise in ticket prices, was not enough to compensate for the impact of disturbances and high fuel prices.
In the third quarter alone the cost of fuel increased by 30.4%, and for the whole year, the group estimates that it will reach EUR 8,900 million, above the forecast for the first half (EUR 8,300-8,600 million).
The rate of aeroplane occupation decreased by 0.6 points to 88%, offset by a 4.1% increase in passenger revenues.
The increase in revenue was mainly due to long-haul flights in all the group's main markets, both in the North Atlantic and the South Atlantic, and the forecast is that the positive trend will continue in the fourth quarter and 2027.
On the other hand, the European market has proved to be more complicated due to the high capacity growth of competition, which has led to a capacity reduction of 1.2%, especially in Iberia and Vueling, to protect profitability, the company said.
The group led by Luis Gallego explained that the prospects, both for the rest of the year and for the beginning of the next year, are positive and trusts to close this exercise with a margin of at least 12%, thanks partly to the cost reduction programme.
Until September, the margin was 13.5%.
IAG started the last phase (of EUR 500 million) of the EUR 1,500 million stock buyback programme, which will end at the end of February 2027.