International Airlines Group, formed by the merger of British Airways and Iberia, posted a 2.1 percent rise in passenger traffic in November, boosted by 4.6 percent growth in premium traffic.

Traffic, measured in revenue passenger kilometres, rose by 2.1 percent versus November 2010, while passenger load factor was down 0.3 percentage points at 75.3 percent.

IAG said its first and business-class travel — the most profitable part of its passenger business – rose 4.6 percent, while non-premium traffic was up 1.6 percent.

Industry body IATA last week said international passenger traffic growth had slowed in recent months and that it expects airlines to suffer from waning consumer confidence, sluggish international trade and high fuel prices in 2012.

IAG, which recently agreed to buy Lufthansa’s British unit bmi, last month reported a 31 percent fall in third-quarter profit, better than expected and outperforming peers. However, its traffic growth has slowed in recent months.