(Alliance News) - International Consolidated Airlines Group SA on Thursday reported more than 5% growth in passenger numbers in December, with Latin America doing particularly well.
The latest passenger figures came as IAG announced that Willie Walsh, will step down as chief executive and from the board in March. It also marked the last time IAG will be reporting monthly figures. It will move to quarterly figures from 2020.
IAG owns British Airways, Spain's Iberia, Ireland's Aer Lingus, as well as vueling, Level, and cargo operations.
Passenger numbers in December were 5.5% higher year-on-year at 8.7 million, with 2019 passenger numbers climbing 4.7% to 118.3 million.
IAG's passenger growth was particularly strong in Latin America & Caribbean in 2019, rising 18%. Europe grew 2.9%, North America 4.3%, Asia Pacific 8.3%, and Africa, Middle East & South Asia 2.9%.
Traffic, measured in revenue passenger kilometres, was 6.4% higher in December at 22.4 million. For the year, the figure increased by 5.6% to 285.7 million, with performance strongest in Latin America & Caribbean once again.
IAG's capacity, which is measured in available seat kilometres, was 2.0% higher in December at 26.7 million, with the 2019 figure 4.0% higher at 337.8 million.
Load factor for December was 83.9%, up from 80.4% a year prior, with the 2019 figure 84.6% compared to 83.3% in 2018.
Cargo tonnages fell 7.8% in December to 458 million tonnes, with the 2019 figure declining by 2.4% to 5.6 million tonnes.
Looking per airline, British Airways passenger numbers were up 5.1% in December, with Iberia growing 7.5%, Aer Lingus by 1.4%, Level by 58%, and vueling by 3.2%.
For 2019, British Airways numbers were 1.6% higher, Iberia up 7.2%, Aer Lingus up 2.4%, Level more than doubled, and vueling up 5.6%.
Walsh will step down as CEO, and from IAG's board, on March 26, before fully retiring from the company at the end of June. Luis Gallego, who is currently head of Iberia, will succeed him as the head of IAG.
Gallego's replacement will be announced in due course, the company said.
Walsh initially joined Aer Lingus as a cadet pilot in 1979. Since then, his roles have included leading Aer Lingus between 2001 and 2005, and heading British Airways between 2005 and 2011.
He became CEO of IAG when British Airways and Iberia merged in 2011, a deal he masterminded.
Shares were 1.3% higher on Thursday afternoon in London at 626.20 pence each.
By George Collard; georgecollard@alliancenews.com
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International Airlines (IAG)