Franco-Dutch airline Air France-KLM (AFRAF.PK) Tuesday reported an increases in passenger traffic, capacity and load factor for the month of January, mainly on growth in Europe and Americas. Meanwhile, cargo traffic and load factor declined from the same month last year.
Passenger traffic for the month of January grew 3.7 percent to 17.55 billion revenue pax-kilometers or RPKs from 16.93 billion RPKs last year.
The company said it has restated passenger data since November 2011, to include the passenger business of Martinair.
Capacity measured in available seat-kilometers or ASKs improved 0.6 percent to 21.50 billion ASKs, from 21.38 billion ASKs a year earlier. Load factor for the month increased 2.5 points to 81.6 percent from 79.2 percent in the previous year.
The number of passengers for the month stood at 5.75 million, up 5.3 percent from a year ago. The company noted that the rise in unit revenue per available seat kilometer or RASK, was however insufficient to offset the increase in fuel bill.
The European network traffic improved 8.1 percent and capacity was up 2.3 percent. Load factor increased 3.6 points and stood at 68.2 percent.
On the Americas network, capacity increased 3.8 percent, mainly driven by Latin America, with North America recording a capacity reduction. Traffic rose 8.3 percent on both networks and load factor gained 3.7 points.
In January, cargo traffic declined 10.3 percent and load factor dropped 3 points to 61.4 percent.
French flag carrier Air France, a subsidiary of the Air France-KLM on Monday said it was able to operate over 85 percent of its long-haul flight schedule, in line with forecast, amid ongoing strike that is affecting the whole French air transport industry.
The company said it expects to operate over 50 percent of long-haul flights, and 70 percent of short and medium-haul flights, including those operated by its regional subsidiaries.
In mid-January, Air France KLM announced that it would restrict capacity to about 5 percent, reduce investment and would freeze pay in the French unit, as the group embarks on a transformation plan amid the uncertain economic environment and the ongoing imbalance between transport supply and demand.
The company is scheduled to release its full year 2011 results on March 8.
In Paris, Air France-KLM shares are currently trading at 5.03 euros, down 1.62 percent, on a volume of 616 thousand shares.
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