British Airways owner IAG reported a 27% jump in annual operating profit on Friday, beating market expectations as it curbed costs and growth in its lucrative transatlantic routes took off.
Its shares jumped 5% to hover close to a five-year high of 368 pence it hit in early February, as IAG also said it plans a 1-billion-euro ($1 billion) share buyback.
European airlines overall have struggled in the past year
with spiralling costs and delivery delays.
IAG, which also owns Spanish airlines…
