International Airlines Group, parent of
British Airways and Iberia, said Friday that it “no longer expects to generate
an absolute operating profit increase similar to 2015,” due to market
volatility following the U.K.’s vote to leave the European Union.
Leading up to the U.K. referendum, IAG
said that it encountered “a weaker-than-expected trading environment.”
Long term, IAG said the U.K.’s vote to
depart the EU would not have a material impact on its business.
U.K.-based low-cost carrier EasyJet
similarly said that Britain’s EU exit wouldn’t have a long-term impact on
earnings growth. The airline’s initial focus is ensuring that the U.K. remains
part of the single EU aviation market, “given its importance to trade and
consumers,” said EasyJet CEO Carolyn McCall.