IAG raised its full-year earnings outlook after reporting a surprise profit in the typically weak first quarter, highlighting how the airline industry has rapidly bounced back from the depths of the pandemic slump. 

The parent company of British Airways and Iberia now expects operating profit to exceed the upper end of its previous guidance, which called for a range of 1.8 billion euros (S$2.63 billion) to 2.3 billion euros, London-based IAG said on Friday (May 5). IAG also said its net debt will come down by the end of the year, after previously saying the figure would remain flat. 

Operating profit in the first quarter came in at 9 million euros, compared with a 718 million euro loss reported a year earlier. Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg had predicted a 186.3 million euro average loss. Airlines typically report losses for the first quarter because of slow travel demand, and make up for the deficit in the stronger Easter and summer seasons.

“We are seeing healthy forward bookings with leisure demand particularly strong while business travel continues to recover more slowly,” chief executive officer Luis Gallego said in the statement.

IAG has benefited from lower fuel prices and robust demand for air travel that’s driven up fares faster than inflation. Air France-KLM also reported earnings today, saying it’s preparing for a busy holiday season amid strong summer ticket sales, while Deutsche Lufthansa said May 3 that demand remains high for tourism travel to places like Spain as well as city breaks.

The group said Iberia contributed record profit in the quarter, while British Airways returned to profit in the period. Demand for corporate travel is recovering slightly faster at Iberia than at other airlines, IAG said.

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The carrier said that outlook for the summer is “encouraging,” with about 80 per cent of second-quarter revenue now booked. BLOOMBERG