IAG revenues increase as BA and Aer Lingus add new North American routes

British Airways parent company International Consolidated Airlines Group saw group traffic increase in May following its launch of the world's first and only non-stop flight between Tennessee and Europe.

Bolstered by its new route between Nashville and Heathrow, which operates five days a week and further links the UK to America's south, revenue per passenger kilometres increased 10% to 23,426 and group capacity, when measured in available seat kilometres, rose 7.1% to 28,338.

Also in May, Vueling, IAG's low-cost Spanish airline, obtained level-three New Distribution Capability certification, an IATA standard which enables the travel industry to transform the way airlines sell their products and ancillaries to travel agencies and companies. British Airways, Iberia and Iberia Express were previously awarded the same certification in 2017.

In addition to the Nashville flights, IAG subsidiary Aer Lingus launched its new service from Dublin to Seattle which operates four times per week to become the airline's 15th North American route and Ireland's first direct flight to Seattle, while BA launched its first ever Canadian flights from Gatwick with a new three per week service to Toronto.

As of 1550 BST, IAG shares had picked up 1.53% to 690.20p.