Formed in January 2011, IAG is the parent company of Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, Vueling and LEVEL. It is a Spanish registered company with shares traded on the London Stock Exchange and Spanish Stock Exchanges. The corporate head office for IAG is in London, UK.

British Airways is a wholly owned subsidiary of the International Airlines Group (IAG), a massive aviation holding company formed in 2011 through the merger of British Airways and Iberia. In 2026, IAG continues to serve as the parent entity for several other high-profile carriers, including Aer Lingus, Vueling, and LEVEL. Although it is a Spanish-registered company with its corporate headquarters in London, British Airways maintains its distinct British identity and its primary hub at London Heathrow. The ownership structure allows British Airways to benefit from shared resources and loyalty programs (like Avios) across the group while remaining the flagship carrier of the United Kingdom and a founding member of the Oneworld alliance.

British Airways (BA) is owned by International Airlines Group (IAG), a multinational airline holding company.

Here are the key details:

• Parent Company: International Airlines Group (IAG). IAG was formed in January 2011 through the merger of British Airways and Iberia (the flag carrier of Spain). It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and the Spanish Stock Exchanges.
• IAG’s Structure: IAG is not owned by a single individual or government. It is a publicly traded company, so it is owned by its shareholders. The largest shareholders are typically institutional investors like investment funds and pension funds.
• Other Airlines under IAG: In addition to British Airways and Iberia, IAG also owns other airlines, including:
  • Aer Lingus (Ireland)
  • Vueling (Spain)
  • Level (low-cost long-haul brand)

Important Historical Note: British Airways was historically owned by the UK government (as a state-owned corporation) but was privatised in 1987. It remained an independent publicly traded company until it became part of IAG in 2011.

In summary: British Airways is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the publicly traded holding company International Airlines Group (IAG).