IAG Sees U.S. ‘Rebound’ – Even Economy Travel is Stabilizing
Photo Credit: British Airways A380 British Airways / British Airways
Skift Take
Premium travelers are still driving profits, but improving economy bookings suggest the North Atlantic market is more resilient than some feared.
International Airlines Group struck a confident tone about the transatlantic market on Friday.
Executives said bookings between Europe and North America have improved steadily since mid-2025, with strong U.S. demand now extending beyond premium travelers into leisure segments that had previously shown signs of softness.
The update places the parent company of British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus broadly in line with rival Air France-KLM, which last week also emphasized resilient U.S. demand despite geopolitical tensions and mounting concern around inbound travel to the United States.
With Lufthansa Group set to report next week, we now have two of Europe’s three legacy airline groups delivering a consistent message: the Atlantic remains the most dependable profit engine heading into the 2026 summer season.
Is Economy Weakness Fading?For much of the past year, executives from across the industry warned that transatlantic economy leisu
