New BA shares trade after merger

BRITISH Airways embarked on a new stock market journey today following its merger with Spanish rival Iberia.

The new company's chief executive Willie Walsh and chairman Antonio Vazquez were present at the London Stock Exchange for the launch of International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG).

Shares rose 2 per cent from the pair's joint valuation on Thursday, when BA called time on nearly 24 years of trading under its own name.