IAG reports rise in premium passenger traffic in April 2012

International Airlines Group (IAG), which operates British Airways and Iberia Airlines flights, recently announced its passenger traffic result for April 2012 on euphoric note.

IAG in a recent statement said that its premium travel segment has shown an impressive growth despite operational difficulties due to pilots’ strike in Spain. The company posted a rise in April traffic, boosted by strong growth in its first and business class travel.

The company said that its traffic (measured in revenue passenger km) increased by 2.9 percent in April 2012 as compared to the same month in 2011, while passenger load factor was up 1.9 percentage point at 81.6 percent.

According to IAG, its first and business class travel, which is the most profitable part of its passenger business, increased 4.8 percent, while non-premium traffic was up 2.6 percent.

The company said that it was able to perform well in its premium travel sector even though its Spanish operations were impacted by industrial action with around 7 days affected by pilot strikes, which hit group capacity by around 2 percent.