International Airlines Group (IAG), the UK-based parent company of British Airways, has reported reduced passenger traffic results for May 2012 from its subsidiary airline, Iberia, while premium traffic from another subsidiary, British Airways, has offset the decline.
The company has reported an increase in overall traffic of 6.6 percent, supported by an increase in premium traffic of 1.7 percent during the month, while economy passengers increased by 7.5 percent in May 2012, from May 2011.
The total number of passengers carried in May 2012 has grown by 9.3 percent, to 4.8 million, from that in May 2011, aided by the acquisition of Bmi airlines.
In a statement the company, said, ‘Trends for June appear stronger than those in May. Underlying market conditions at our London Heathrow hub continue to be firm, particularly in long haul premium. However, commercial performance at our Madrid hub has deteriorated further due to the ongoing effects of the Spanish and wider Eurozone macroeconomic conditions and the after-effects of prolonged industrial action.’
The company has been embroiled in a dispute with Iberia pilots, over the launch of its low cost airline, Iberia Express.
Iberia Express is offering new European routes from Madrid (Spain), to Dublin (Ireland) and Naples (Italy), as well as new domestic flights to Fuerteventura, La Palma and Santiago de Compostela, in Spain. It is offering a total of 14 destinations from Madrid, both on international and domestic routes.
Earlier, Ryanair, an Ireland-based low cost airline, had reported a 5 percent increase in May 2012 passenger traffic; and Easyjet, a UK-based airline, has reported 14.4 percent increase in its May 2012 passenger traffic.
