FTSE 100 news / Companies and sectors / Travel and leisure / 18 October 2026
Travel and leisure: sector news on Sunday 18 October 2026
Average tone +0.2 (neutral) across 5 companies with relevant coverage, from 27 stories.
Company by company
| Company | Tone | Stories | What the coverage was about |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Airlines Group | −0.7 | 10 | Coverage mixed positive news such as BA's 70% Barbados expansion and premium cabin praise with safety stories, including a BA emergency landing, a fire on board and an Aer Lingus whistleblower case. |
| Games Workshop | +2.7 | 8 | Coverage was mostly about new Warhammer and Age of Sigmar releases, including pre-orders and a festive miniature, which leans mildly positive. |
| IHG Hotels & Resorts | +5.8 | 4 | Coverage focused on IHG expanding its brands, with Noted Collection arriving in Saudi Arabia and Vignette Collection hotels added across China. |
| EasyJet | −4.8 | 3 | Coverage was mostly about operational disruption, with delays and cancellations at Gatwick and a planned strike in Portugal threatening Christmas flights. |
| Whitbread | −2.0 | 2 | Coverage centred on a board fight and a dividend hold clouding the investment case, partly offset by the Whitbread boss rejecting a US raider's interest in Premier Inn. |
Strongest stories in the sector
- −8.3 Aer Lingus counsel denies ‘whitewash’ of alleged safety complaint in pilot’s whistleblower action
Aer Lingus faces whistleblower action over alleged safety complaint. - +8.3 British Airways to increase Barbados flights by 70% in Winter 2026/27
BA to boost Barbados flights by 70%. - −8.0 easyJet Portugal Strike Dec. 19–23: Christmas Flights at Risk
Portugal strike threatens Christmas flights, risking disruption and revenue. - +7.5 IHG Adds Distinctive Vignette Collection Hotels Across China
Vignette Collection growth across China adds to pipeline. - +7.0 IHG brings Noted Collection to Saudi Arabia’s independent hotel market
Brand expansion into Saudi Arabia's independent hotel market. - −6.7 Cracked window forces BA flight to emergency land
BA flight made emergency landing after cracked window. - −6.3 Board Fight And Dividend Hold Altering The Investment Case For Whitbread Stock (LSE:WTB)?
Board fight and dividend hold cast doubt on investment case. - +5.8 British Airways, Emirates And Cathay Pacific Lead A Premium Cabin Revolution
BA named a leader in premium cabin trend. - −5.8 SHORT CIRCUIT British Airways flight returns to Gatwick after power bank catches fire on board
BA flight returned after power bank fire. - +5.5 Will Australia Hotel Deal Change IHG Shares Narrative
Australia hotel deal prompts discussion of IHG share narrative. - +5.3 Room at the Premier Inn for US raider? No, says Whitbread boss
Boss rebuffs US raider interest, suggesting Whitbread stays independent. - −4.5 London Gatwick: Delays and cancellations on Saturday, October 17, including multiple easyJet flights
Multiple easyJet flights delayed or cancelled at Gatwick, hurting customer experience.
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