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British Airways owner International Airlines Group has reported a second year of record profits and outlined plans to return more cash to shareholders as it capitalised on “strong” demand for travel, particularly across the Atlantic.
The owner of five airlines including Spain’s Iberia and Ireland’s Aer Lingus on Friday said annual operating profit rose 22 per cent to €4.3bn in 2024. The results surpassed 2023’s previous record of €3.5bn.
“We have seen ongoing strong demand for travel throughout 2024 and now into 2025, particularly across our core markets,” the company said on Friday.
IAG’s share price has more than doubled over the past year as investors have cheered a series of strong quarterly financial results, built on high demand for travel, particularly across the group’s key routes across the Atlantic.
IAG said it planned to return €1bn in “excess capital” to shareholders over the 12 months from November last year. It added that it would pay a full-year dividend of €0.09 per share.
This is a developing story.