London, Feb 1, 2026, 09:21 GMT — Market closed
- IAG closed Friday 2.05% higher at 418.2 pence, outperforming the broader UK market.
- Attention now turns to the group’s full-year results, set for release on Feb 27, the next scheduled update.
- Oil continues to drive airline costs, as OPEC+ prepares to meet on Sunday.
Shares of International Consolidated Airlines Group, the parent company of British Airways, ended Friday up 2.05% at 418.2 pence, outpacing the broader UK market. The FTSE 100 gained 0.51% during the session. Despite the rise, IAG’s stock remains roughly 4.65% below its 52-week peak of 439 pence, reached on January 7, according to market data.
London markets are closed Sunday, leaving investors focused on a single key date Monday. IAG plans to release its full-year 2025 results on Feb 27, a likely moment for the group to update forecasts on demand, pricing, and cash flow.
Fuel prices are caught in the middle of this tug-of-war. A Reuters poll released Friday projects Brent, the global oil benchmark, to average $62.02 a barrel in 2026, with U.S. crude trailing at $58.72—despite Brent trading near $70 on Jan 30. “Geopolitics brings lots of noise,” noted Norbert Ruecker of Julius Baer, but the market “appears to be in a lasting surplus.” Meanwhile, Cyrus De La Rubia from Hamburg Commercial Bank expects “OPEC+ will defend a price floor.” Reuters
Airlines are hit harder and faster than most sectors since jet fuel, a major expense, tracks closely with crude prices.
IAG, a UK airline holding group, oversees brands such as Iberia, Vueling, and Aer Lingus, according to its Reuters company profile.
Traders will zero in on “unit revenue” — revenue per seat kilometre — as the company reports, treating it as a key measure of pricing strength. Equally important will be the guidance on capacity and any updates on cost inflation, especially hedging strategies for jet fuel, not just the headline profit figures.
Oil prices might shift ahead of the London session as OPEC+, the group made up of Saudi Arabia, Russia, and others, is set to hold its current output freeze for March at Sunday’s meeting, Reuters reports. Crude hovered around $70 amid rising concerns the U.S. could target Iran.
IAG frequently moves in line with European airline peers like Lufthansa and Air France-KLM, reacting to shifts in risk sentiment and fuel cost news. Meanwhile, low-cost carriers such as Ryanair can shake up the sector when they comment on fares and capacity.
That said, the setup works both ways. A spike in crude prices or any cautious hints on pricing or costs in the Feb 27 update might send the stock tumbling, given how close shares are to recent highs.
