IAG's December load factor hurt by Paris terrorist attacks

British Airways owner International Consolidated Airlines on Friday reported a 10.5% increase in traffic in the year to December.

The group carried 5% more passengers last month at 6,735 compared to 5,793 in December 2014.

However, the load factor – which compares the number of passengers against the number of seats available – fell 0.6 percentage points to 78.6%.

The company said the terrorist attacks in Paris on 13 November had a negative impact on the load factor. It also hurt premium traffic, which incorporates first class and business class flights, falling 0.3% on a pro-forma basis.

“However, our guidance for full-year 2015 operating profit, issued with our third quarter results, remains unchanged,” IAG said in a statement.

Shares rose 0.6% to 594p at 1515 GMT.