IAG reports dip in passenger load factor in July

International Consolidated Airlines Group, the holding company of Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia and Vueling said revenue passenger kilometres, group capacity and premium traffic all rose in July.

On the other hand, the passenger load factor – which measures how full flights are - declined by -0.4 percentage points to 86.4% , although year-to-date it had increased by 0.7 percentage points to 81.8%.

Revenue passenger kilometres increased by 0.7% in July in comparison to a year ago to reach 24.74m, while group capacity measured by available seat kilometres rose by 1.1% to 28.62m.

Meanwhile, group premium traffic increased by 3.1% versus 2016.

In terms of recent strategic developments, the company also reported that it had converted three options for Airbus A330-200 aircraft into firm orders for its budget long-haul carrier, LEVEL.

Also, Iberia had relaunched its Madrid-Barcelona air bridge shuttle in conjunction with its existing short-haul low-cost option, Vueling.