Aer Lingus’s parent company, International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG), has reported a return to an operating profit between January and March for the first time since the onset of the pandemic. This profit amounted to €9 million, a stark contrast from the €718 million loss in the same period last year. Revenues also rose significantly, reaching €5.9 billion – a 71% increase from the prior year.
IAG credited the positive financial performance to “ongoing strong customer demand” across their airlines, which include Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, Level, and Vueling. Chief Executive Luis Gallego expressed his enthusiasm for the results, noting that Iberia’s first-quarter profits were at a record high and that all airlines had seen “robust demand” due to a lower fuel price in the quarter.
Gallego continued to speak positively of the future, remarking that they were already seeing “healthy forward bookings” with particularly strong leisure demand. He added that business travel is on the rise as well, although more slowly.
