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Airline group IAG moves into profit | Airline group IAG moves into profit |
(about 1 hour later) | |
British Airways owner IAG has moved into profit for the first half of the year after an improved performance from its Spanish airline, Iberia. | British Airways owner IAG has moved into profit for the first half of the year after an improved performance from its Spanish airline, Iberia. |
The group made a pre-tax profit of 155m euros ($207m; £123m), compared with a 177m-euro loss a year ago. | The group made a pre-tax profit of 155m euros ($207m; £123m), compared with a 177m-euro loss a year ago. |
Iberia, which has been loss-making for a number of years, made an operating loss of 95m euros. | |
Last week, it signed an agreement to shed an extra 1,427 jobs, IAG chief executive Willie Walsh said. | Last week, it signed an agreement to shed an extra 1,427 jobs, IAG chief executive Willie Walsh said. |
In early trading on Friday, IAG shares increased more than 4% in value. | |
"This performance shows that we are making further solid progress," Mr Walsh said in a statement. | |
Group passenger numbers increased to 35,480 from 29,137 in the first half of 2013. | |
Mr Walsh said that Iberia's restructuring "continues to have a positive impact" on the group, and that 16 new aeroplanes had been ordered for the Spanish airline. | Mr Walsh said that Iberia's restructuring "continues to have a positive impact" on the group, and that 16 new aeroplanes had been ordered for the Spanish airline. |
Eight Airbus A350-900s and eight Airbus A330-200s will be joining its long-haul fleet, he said. | Eight Airbus A350-900s and eight Airbus A330-200s will be joining its long-haul fleet, he said. |
Iberia narrowed its operating losses from 551m euros the year before. In 2013, the Spanish airline's losses acted as a drag on the profits made by BA and low-cost airline Vueling. | |
In the first half of 2014, BA made a profit of 327m euros. |