Overview
- IAG reported profit after tax of €2.703 billion for the first nine months, up 15.5% year on year, on revenue of €25.234 billion, up 4.9%, and it kept full‑year guidance unchanged.
- The company said about 95% of its €1 billion share buyback is complete and announced an interim dividend of €0.048 per share, with further cash returns to be considered at February’s results.
- Shares fell 6.5% at the open and closed down 11.5% at €4.166, the steepest one‑day drop in nearly four years, as investors reacted to weaker passenger unit revenues and North Atlantic softness.
- Capacity rose roughly 2.6% year to date with a load factor of 88.6%, while passenger numbers edged lower at Iberia and Vueling.
- Performance diverged across airlines: Iberia’s operating profit before exceptions rose 31% to €1.074 billion, Aer Lingus rose 68% to €250 million, British Airways rose 18% to £1.637 billion, and Vueling fell by €22 million to €367 million.