British Airways¹ has reported a half-year profit of £158m ($252m), its first in two years, as the company prepares to merge² with Iberia of Spain.

英国航空公司近半年获利1.58英镑，这是该公司最近两年以来首次盈利。据悉英国航空将于西班牙伊比利亚航空进行合并。

The British Airways profit comes the same day as strong results from Iberia

Meanwhile Iberia itself reported a profit of 53m euros (£46m, $74m) for the last nine months.

The companies - which will merge on 21 January - both made losses a year ago.

Separately, it has emerged that Willie Walsh and other BA executives will receive substantial（大量的，实质的） pay rises after the airline's merger³ with Iberia of Spain.

Mr Walsh will become chief executive of the combined company - International Consolidated⁴ Airlines Group - and will see his basic pay rise 12% to £825,000 a year.

He will also be eligible⁵（有资格的） for performance-related bonuses under the merger deal, that will be capped at twice his basic pay, or £1.65m.

Mr Walsh's colleague, BA chief financial officer Keith Williams, will see his basic pay rise 43% to £630,000 after his promotion⁶ to replace Mr Walsh as BA chief executive within the enlarged company.

Mr Wiliams' bonus will be capped at 1.5 times his basic salary.