Finance

British Airways owner IAG beats annual profit estimates

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on February 27, 2026

1 min read

· Last updated: April 2, 2026

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British Airways owner IAG beats annual profit estimates
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(Corrects paragraph 2 to say 5.02 billion euros, not million, and profit rise to 13%, not 3.5%; corrects dateline) Feb 27 (Reuters) - British Airways owner IAG reported a better-than-expected annual

IAG Surpasses Annual Profit Expectations with Strong Performance

(Corrects paragraph 2 to say 5.02 billion euros, not million, and profit rise to 13%, not 3.5%; corrects dateline)

IAG's Financial Performance Overview

Feb 27 (Reuters) - British Airways owner IAG reported a better-than-expected annual profit on Friday as it benefited from lower fuel costs and resilience on its core transatlantic routes, particularly for its premium services. 

Operating Profit Details

IAG reported an operating profit before exceptional items of 5.02 billion euros ($5.93 billion), compared with 4.97 billion euros projected by analysts polled by LSEG. That's up 13% from last year's adjusted operating profit of 4.44 billion euros.

Currency Exchange Rate Information

($1 = 0.8471 euros)

(Reporting by Raechel Thankam Job in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich)

Key Takeaways

  • IAG’s operating profit before exceptional items rose to €5.024 billion in 2025, beating forecasts and marking a 13.1% increase year‑on‑year.
  • Revenue grew 3.5% to €33.213 billion, supported by lower fuel costs and strong transatlantic premium demand.
  • Operating margin expanded by 1.3 percentage points to 15.1%, reaching the top of its 12–15% target range.
  • IAG announced shareholder returns including a €1.5 billion buyback program and an 8.9% increase in total dividend to €0.098 per share.

References

Frequently Asked Questions

How much was IAG’s operating profit in 2025?
It was €5.024 billion before exceptional items, up 13.1% from 2024.
What drove the profit increase?
Lower fuel costs and strong demand on core transatlantic premium routes drove higher profitability.
Did IAG improve its operating margin?
Yes, the operating margin rose by 1.3 percentage points to 15.1%, at the top of its target range.
Is IAG returning cash to shareholders?
Yes, it launched a €1.5 billion share buyback and increased its total dividend by 8.9% to €0.098 per share.

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