The International Airlines Group (IAG) has confirmed a substantial widebody fleet expansion with an order for 71 new long-haul aircraft, marking a key milestone in the group’s long-term strategy. The move comes alongside strong Q1 2025 financial results, which saw the Group grow revenue by 9.6 percent and report a pre-exceptional profit of €198 million—€130 million ahead of the same period last year.
“Today, we announced our financial results for the first quarter of 2025. It’s been a strong start to the year, and during the quarter, we grew revenue by 9.6 perent. Our profit before exceptional items was €198 million, which is an increase of €130 million compared to the same period of last year.”
Although not explicitly cargo-focused, the fleet announcement carries major implications for IAG Cargo, which relies heavily on bellyhold capacity across the Group’s passenger airlines—British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling, and LEVEL.
The addition of 71 next-generation aircraft over the coming decade will enhance the Group’s transatlantic and intercontinental footprint, delivering fuel efficiency gains and expanded lift at a time when global supply chains are undergoing structural shifts.
“These new aircraft will enable us to strengthen our core markets and further improve our customer experience, while continuing to drive long-term value for our shareholders,” IAG stated via LinkedIn.
The investment supports IAG’s broader transformation programme, which includes fleet modernisation and sustainability goals. While aircraft types have not yet been publicly detailed, earlier reports suggested a mix of Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus widebodies were under consideration.
For the cargo division, the long-haul bellyhold expansion comes as cross-border e-commerce, pharma, and aerospace shipments show continued resilience—particularly on North Atlantic and Asia-Europe corridors. As with previous aircraft orders, cargo leaders across the Group will likely play a role in shaping hold configurations and route priorities to maximise uplift.
