IAG CEO Discusses Asia Demand, Airline Consolidation, and Fuel Price Impact

IAG CEO Discusses Asia Demand, Airline Consolidation, and Fuel Price Impact

IAG CEO discusses the temporary nature of increased Asia demand via Middle East hubs, potential price wars, and the role of consolidation in a challenging environment. He highlights IAG's strong balance sheet and openness to M&A, particularly in Europe, while noting regulatory hurdles and the need for a different approach to consolidation.

IAG CEO on Asia demand, Consolidation & Fuel Prices. | Transcript:

I think, uh, we are taking advantage in certain routes that, uh, now that people they can apply through the Middle East. Yeah. Uh, we put more capacity to some destinations, uh, from London in Asia. But I think it's something that is going to be is going to finish. Um, I think as soon as they golf, it's not structural. No, I don't think so. I think in some of them they are playing now 80% of the capacity they were flying previously. And I think, uh, we are not going too far faster.

Do you see a price war out to Asia? Like, do you think the Gulf carriers need to do that either already signaling they that kind of okay. Do you think they're going to need to manage prices? I suppose they will try to stimulate demand. Uh, yeah. Prices uh, do that. They got hubs. When we get to the end of the summer, there's a possibility that a number of airlines are going to be struggling.

Yes. Do you see an opportunity for M&A coming up? We always say that, uh, this, uh, crisis can help, uh, to consolidation. Yes. Um, we started this in a very good, uh, position with a very strong balance sheet, 15% of, uh, of margin. So with accounting, uh, all this, they don't have, uh, all that. So at the end, they are going to have, uh, problems. Um, and what we will do after these questions is to be, uh, stronger, to show again that resilience is high. And I am sure we can have opportunities and we are going to many targets you're looking at, any areas that you're looking at.

Would it be domestic Europe, that kind of where were you looking? No, I think, uh, you know, that we tried, for example, to the rural population before it was not possible because of the competition, European, uh, competition. Uh. Um, I think now Europe, they are trying to change their approach to consolidation and maybe that can open the door. Again, it's going to be easier to consolidate in Europe, you think going forward. I think they realized that, uh, after the Draghi report that, uh, we need to be more competitive. Uh, we are not, uh, today. So I think if they can find a different approach, maybe it's one of the reasons that, uh, were not possible before can

be possible now. Any ideas of what that could look like? No, I think, uh, come on, ladies, you know, there's got to some names out there. What's on your shopping list that we always have at the bottom and following opportunities. International Group is a platform for consolidation. So it's our role to try to find out who can join the group. Uh, if we can improve the performance of that company with a model that, uh, we can. And the airlines in Europe that could fit that bill. Yes. Yeah. Yes. And I think, uh, a lot of airlines also, they would like to belong to IAG because of our model that, uh, the different airlines, they have, uh, their brands, the customers, the network that uh, we set, uh, before. So it's a model that is attractive.

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