Proactive Investors - British Airways owner International Consolidated Airlines Group (LON:ICAG) took off on Thursday after US-based rivals signalled improving transatlantic demand.
United Airlines Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:UAL, ETR:UAL1) said on Wednesday that it expected to see strong demand over the summer, fuelling a record for passenger numbers this year.
“On demand, we see continued positive momentum in bookings across all customer segments,” chief executive Scott Kirby said.
“[This includes] the most price-sensitive customers to ‘domestic road warriors’ and up to the premium global customer.”
United forecast per-share earnings to exceed analysts' expectations over the first quarter, despite being pushed to a US$164 million loss last year by forced groundings of its Boeing (NYSE:BA) 737 MAX 9s after January’s Alaska Air door panel blowout.
“Current results are very strong, but the future is even brighter,” chief financial officer Michael Leskinen commented.
Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) had also highlighted improving transatlantic travel trends in an update last week.
Stifel analysts noted on Wednesday that IAG’s upcoming results, on May 10, could highlight similar trends for transatlantic travel, alongside circling around summer demand.
IAG shares climbed 4% to 167.15p.