IAG January traffic and load factor rise

British Airways and Iberia parent International Consolidated Airlines Group’s traffic and load factor rose in January.

Group traffic, measured in revenue passenger kilometres, was up 11.9% year-on-year to 17.3m, while the load factor, which gauges how many seats were taken up on flights, rose to 78.7% from 77%.

Group capacity measured in available seat kilometres grew 9.4% while group premium traffic for January increased 2.1%.

In addition, the company said British Airways will resume direct flights to Tehran in Iran from 14 July onward.

The route will launch as a six-per-week service before moving to daily flights from winter 2016.

At 1535 GMT, IAG shares were down 3.8% to 520.50p.