International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) posted a strong set of first-half results driven by robust travel demand and operational improvements which boosted profitability. The owner of British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus saw its revenue rise by 8% year-on-year to €15.91 billion in the six months ended 30 June, while operating profits before exceptional items jumped 43.5% to €1.88 billion. The FTSE 100-listed group cited favourable fuel costs, foreign exchange tailwinds, and a strong performance across its core brands and geographies as key drivers of the first-half growth. IAG shares rose 0.7% in early trading.
Melrose delivered solid half-year results, with the aerospace technology firm seeing profits rise by nearly a third despite a backdrop of supply chain and tariff disruptions. The FTSE 100-listed firm reported an adjusted operating profit of £310 million, easily beating the £299 million consensus forecast and up from £247 million the year before, helped by a big improvement in operating margins to 18.0% from 14.2%. Looking ahead, the company maintained its guidance on a constant-currency basis, but lowered forecasts slightly due to the strengthening of sterling against the US dollar. In early trading, Melrose shares were up 5.7%.
Pearson said it was on track to meet full-year forecasts as it reported interim results, expecting strong second-half growth. The educational publisher reported a 2% rise in adjusted operating profit and sales in its first half. Pearson chief executive Omar Abbosh said the firm is making rapid progress with bringing AI-powered products to market and in scaling and enhancing its enterprise business with a range of new partnerships and deals. The company noted that it expected stronger sales growth in the fourth quarter, in particular. In early trading, Pearson shares gained 4.9%.
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