Air France–KLM March traffic slumps on Covid-19

Air France–KLM said that its passenger traffic fell by 57pc year on year in March, as a result of "progressive extensions of capacity reductions" it imposed in reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The group carried 3.1mn passengers in March, also down substantially from the 6mn in February before the the firm began to ground flights. The company's capacity — measured in available seat kilometres (ASKs) — fell by 35pc in March on the year, weighed down by a fall of 44pc on short- and medium-haul routes.

Air France-KLM foresees April and May capacity to be down by 90pc, but is unable to provide guidance beyond that. It will suspend its monthly traffic releases until further notice.

Airport operator group ACI Europe said there was a 59.5pc in total passenger traffic in March, dragging traffic down by 21pc year on year in the first quarter. This equates to 106mn fewer passengers in March, it said.

By Florence Schmit

source: Argus Media