Aer Lingus profits jump 48% but airline chief says Dublin restriction could hinder growth
The Q2 profit figure represents a 48% jump from the equivalent period in 2024, when operating profit stood at €91m. Overall first half profits stand at €80m.
Aer Lingus' owner, AIG, which also owns British Airways reported operating profit of €1.68bn for the quarter, up 35% from 2024.
Aer Lingus said its improved financial performance was driven by capacity growth and a robust revenue performance while the airline also benefitted from favourable fuel pricing. The period saw a 10.9% growth in overall capacity and a 4.3% increase in passenger numbers compared to 2024.
This summer Aer Lingus is operating its biggest ever North American network including new services from Dublin to Nashville and Indianapolis. It has also expanded its European leisure network. Aer Lingus will begin its first direct flight to Cancún Mexico, in January 2026.
Aer Lingus took delivery of its third Airbus A321 XLR aircraft in May with the remaining three XLRs expected to join the fleet later this year.
'Our Q2 2025 financial performance builds upon the momentum seen in the business in both Q4 2024 and Q1 2025," said Ms Embleton.
But she warned future growth in Dublin is threatened by the restrictions in place there. "The recent An Coimisiún Pleanála decision on night-time noise introduced an unnecessary annual movement restriction at Dublin Airport which is likely to impede both future growth of north Atlantic traffic and the basing of additional short-haul aircraft in Dublin," she said.
"This restriction on night-time movements will have to be removed. Together with the continued uncertainty around the passenger cap at Dublin Airport, it will have negative economic and employment impacts. It is also now imperative that Government intervenes and urgently legislates for the removal of the passenger cap.'
IAG ICAG.L reported better than expected second-quarter earnings on Friday, helped by strong demand for its transatlantic routes despite fears of knock-on effects from U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff war.
Europe's airlines have broadly managed to dodge turmoil over tariffs, with Air France-KLM AIRF.PA and Lufthansa LHAG.DE reporting strong second quarters and confirming their annual forecasts this week.
IAG's operating profit of €1.68bn beat analysts' average forecast of €1.4bn in an LSEG poll.
"We continue to benefit from the trend of a structural shift in consumer spending towards travel. We remain focused on our market-leading brands and core geographies, where we continue to see robust performance," IAG chief executive Luis Gallego.
The group confirmed its full-year financial forecasts and said it was seeing strong demand in its core North Atlantic markets, as well as Latin America and Europe.
Mr Gallego acknowledged volatility in the US economic situation, he said any weakness was mitigated by strengths in other parts of the business.
"The US point-of-sale economy cabin is still weak but it's offset by the strong premium cabin we have ... but it has been improving in the past few weeks," Mr Gallego said on Friday.
US airlines have not fared as well, with Delta pulling its full-year guidance this spring over worries about declining demand.
Additional reporting by Reuters
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