This slight drop had a number of causes combined with a fall in load factor in Europe. There was robust growth in passenger traffic on North and South American routes, while capacity and traffic to African and Asian destinations decreased.

The load factor for KLM Cargo rose to 66.4% (+1.3%^pts), because capacity decreased (-4.3% ATKs) more than traffic (-2.4% RTKs).

At Transavia, while capacity remained more or less the same, traffic grew somewhat, resulting in a higher load factor.

(*) The joint Air France KLM traffic results are available in the download box of this message.

• Comparison affected by the September 2014 strike, whose impact was estimated at ASK 4,249 million and RPK 3,704 million
• Excluding strike impact, traffic up 1.6% for capacity up by 1.0%
• 7.1 million passengers, up 23.6%
• Excluding last year’s strike impact, unit revenue per available seat kilometer (RASK) ex-currency down compared to September 2014

• 1.2 million passengers, up 8.4%
• Ongoing accelerated development of Transavia in France (passenger volumes up 34%)

• 8.3 million passengers, up 21.2%

• Comparison affected by the September 2014 strike, whose impact was estimated at ATK 213 million and RTK 147 million
• Excluding strike impact, traffic down 10.8% for capacity down 6.5% in the framework of the ongoing restructuring of cargo
• Excluding last year’s strike impact, unit revenue per available ton kilometer (RATK) ex-currency clearly down compared to September 2014 

Agenda

• 29 October 2015: Q3 2015 results
• 9 November 2015: October 2015 traffic
• 8 December 2015: November 2015 traffic

STATISTICS

Passenger network activity*

* Air France, KLM, and HOP!

Transavia activity

Total group passenger activity**

** Air France, KLM, HOP! and Transavia

Cargo activity

• On the Americas network, traffic rose 1.4% for capacity up by 1.6%. The load factor was stable at 90.9%(-0.1 point). 
• The Asia network posted a 1.8% increase in traffic for capacity up by 3.4%, the load factor declining by 1.4 points to 86.9%.
• On the Africa and Middle East network, traffic was virtually stable (-0.2%); with capacity up by 1.2%, the load factor stood at 82.4% (-1.2 points).   
• The Caribbean and Indian Ocean network saw a 0.8% decrease in traffic for capacity down by 3.4%. The load factor increased by 2.1 points to 79.1%.
• On the European network, traffic declined by less than capacity (-0.7% and -2.1% respectively), enabling a 1.1 point improvement in load factor to 78.6%.  

Cargo
Cargo recorded a 4.1% drop in traffic for capacity down by 2.0%, leading to a 1.4 point decline in load factor to 62.4%. Unit revenue per available tonne kilometer (RATK) ex-currency decreased compared with September 2012.

Recent developments

• For the ninth consecutive year, Air France-KLM was ranked leader of the "Airlines" industry by the Dow Jones Sustainability index (DJSI), the main international index evaluating companies on their sustainable development performance. Moreover, for the fifth year running, Air France-KLM was ranked leader of the broader "Transport" category covering air, rail, sea and road transport as well as airport activities. Air France-KLM is thus positioned amongst the 24 most sustainable companies globally, each in their relevant sectors of activity. 
• On 24th September, Air France unveiled its new Economy and Premium Economy offer, within the framework of its “Best & Beyond” project and the strategy to move up market. In Economy, there is a new fully-revised seat with more legroom and an enhanced level of comfort. New wider High Definition screens will also soon be available to everyone. The first flight equipped with these new cabins will be operated in the summer of 2014.  
• As of 2nd February 2014, KLM will offer a scheduled service bound for Santiago in Chile, with a stop over in Buenos Aires. 
• Having been created on 7th October 1933, Air France today celebrates its 80th anniversary.

The group realised a satisfactory third quarter across all its businesses with the exception of cargo. In passenger, the limited capacity increase in the industry led to an improvement in unit revenues, which, for the group, were also helped by a positive foreign exchange effect due to the depreciation of the euro versus other currencies. On the other hand, the cargo business continued to deteriorate over the quarter. As previously indicated, measures undertaken in the context of the plan Transform 2015 are starting to have a significant impact on costs.

(!) on the right side of this page you can download the complete overview of the Financial Year 2012 - Quarter July-September 2012 document (PDF).

• On the Americas network, capacity was up 0.7%, with a 1.5% rise in traffic and a load factor up 0.8 points to 91.0%. 
• The Asia network recorded a 1.1% rise in traffic for capacity up by 1.7%. The load factor declined by 0.6 points to 88.3%.
• The Africa and Middle East network recorded declines in traffic and capacity of 1.9% and 2.7% respectively. The load factor, at 83.5%, was up by 0.7 points.
• On the Caribbean and Indian Ocean network, traffic was down 3.3% and capacity by 3.7%. The load factor gained 0.3 points to 76.9%.
• The European network saw a 3.0% rise in traffic for capacity up by 3.9% under the effect of the provincial bases. The load factor declined by 0.7 points to 77.5%.
   

Cargo business
The group continued to adjust its full-freighter schedule, leading to a 4.5% reduction in capacity. Traffic declined by 6.6%, with a 1.4 point deterioration in the load factor to 63.2%. Unit revenue per available ton kilometer (RATK) ex-currency was lower than in September 2011.

Recent developments

• The group announced its Winter 2012-13 schedule, effective on 28th October. In line with the Transform 2015 plan, the group has opted to stabilize capacity relative to Winter 2011-12, with a 0.5% increase on long haul and a 0.5% reduction on medium-haul. This minimal rise on long-haul reflects a reduction in capacity to North America and the Middle East and a slight increase to Asia and Africa. 
• Air France confirmed it will invest several hundred million euros to reposition its product and services at the highest level within the industry. On its medium-haul network, the company will introduce a new catering offer in Business and Premium Economy during the upcoming Winter season. In world premiere, the company will deploy, during 2013, a complimentary digital press service. This innovation will allow all passengers to upload daily press on their tablets and smartphones before boarding their flight. Finally as from 2014, the La Première and Business cabins on board the Company’s Boeing 777 aircraft will be progressively redesigned.
• The Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), the main international index evaluating companies on their performance in terms of sustainable development, has once again ranked Air France-KLM air transport leader for the year 2012, for the 8th year running. Thanks to its performance, the group is also leader of the broader ‘Transport and leisure’ sector. This distinction ranks the 19 most responsible companies in the world, each in their own sector of activity.

• On the Americas network, traffic rose 12.2% for capacity up by 10.8%. The load factor gained 1.1 points to 90.6%.
• The Asia network remained dynamic. Traffic (+9.7%) kept pace with the rise in capacity (+9.4%), leading to a load factor of 88.8% (+0.3 points). Traffic to Japan returned to the level of September 2010, but unit revenue remained below pre-crisis.
• The Africa and Middle East network saw traffic rise by 2.9% for capacity down by 1.3%. The load factor gained 3.4 points to 82.9%. Traffic to/from Ivory Coast recovered strongly, but less so on Egyptian routes.
• On the Caribbean and Indian Ocean network, traffic was up by 6.4% for capacity up by 4.7%. The load factor gained 1.2 points to 76.6%.
• The European network saw the cancellation of 1,300 flights in September 2010, leading to a favorable comparison basis. Traffic progressed by 9.5% for capacity up by 7.3%. The load factor gained 1.6 points to 78.2%.

Cargo business
Cargo traffic declined by 3.4% for capacity up by 1.0%. The load factor declined by 3 points to 64.7%. Unit revenues per available ton kilometer (RATK) excluding currency was slightly down versus September 2010.

Recent developments

• The Air France-KLM group presented its Winter 2011 schedule (November 2011-March 2012). The rise in capacity is planned at 3.4% including a mechanical 0.7% rise linked to the 29 days in February next year. Long haul capacity is planned to rise by 1.9% excluding calendar effect, mainly targeted at Latin America and Asia. The rise in capacity on medium-haul of 6.2% is linked to the launch of the Marseilles base (which offers 13 new destinations of which ten international), as well as the reorganization of the Amsterdam hub banks in Summer 2011. Excluding the launch of the Marseille base and the calendar effect, the underlying medium-haul rise is limited to 1.7%. The group also 2/3 announced that it will limit the rise in long-haul capacity for the Summer and Winter 2012 seasons to 3.0%.
• Air France-KLM announced an order for 110 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, of which 50 firm orders and 60 options. This order is mainly aimed at replacing aircraft nearing end of life. First deliveries will take place in 2016, and will be spread over a period of some ten years.
• Air France-KLM was confirmed as member of the Dow Jones Sustainability World and European indices and leader in the aviation sector for the seventh consecutive year. In addition, it was recognized for the third year running as super-sector leader in the broader “Travel and Leisure” sector.
• China Airlines officially joined the SkyTeam Alliance on 28th September 2011, becoming its 15th member.

Agenda

8th November 2011 at 8h00 CET: October 2011 traffic
9th November 2011 at 17h45 CET: Half Year Results (April-September 2011)
9th November 2011 at 18h00 CET: Press conference

Traffic in September rose 1.8% for slightly reduced capacity (-0.5%), leading to a 1.9 point rise in load factor to 83.8%. The number of passengers rose to 6.3 million (+1.5%). Unit revenue per available seat kilometer (RASK) excluding currency was up strongly year on year, both in economy and premium classes.

On the Americas network traffic declined slightly by 0.5% for capacity down 1.8%. The load factor gained 1.2 points to 89.4%.

Traffic on the Asia network rose 3.3% with capacity up 1.6%. The load factor gained 1.4 points to 88.6%. At the beginning of the month, Air France deployed the Airbus A380 on the Paris-Tokyo route, the third to be served by this aircraft following New York (2009) and Johannesburg (February 2010).

On the Africa and Middle East network traffic was up 4.9% with a 1.9% increase in capacity, thanks to an earlier end of the Ramadan this year. The load factor gained 2.3 points to 79.6%.

On the Caribbean and Indian Ocean network traffic rose 4.5% with capacity up 5.2%. The load factor gave up 0.6 points to 75.4%.

Traffic on the European network was up by 1.0% in spite of the cancellation of more than 1,300 flights because of air traffic control strikes, notably in France. Capacity declined by 4.2%, leading to a record load factor for the month of September of 76.4%, up 4.0 points.

Cargo

Traffic rose 6.0% for capacity up 2.7%. The load factor gained 2.1 points to 67.5%. Unit revenue per available ton kilometer (RATK) excluding currency rose strongly versus September 2009.

Recent developments

A number of strategic developments have been announced in recent weeks:

In the area of sustainable development, Dow Jones included the group for the sixth year running in the “Dow Jones Sustainability” indexes (DJSI). The group was also recognized as the most respon-sible company (“leader”) in the “air transport” sector, as well as “super sector leader” of the broader “travel and leisure” sector.

The group launched a 110 million euro investment over three years to install new, ergonomically redesigned business class seats, incorporating a two meter bed. This seat will be installed in 40 aircraft in the next three years.

Air France was voted “Airline of the year” at the “2010 Business Travel Gold Awards”. Business travelers applauded two innovations: the ‘Premium Voyageur’ cabin on long-haul flights, and the new ‘Premium Eco’ offer on medium-haul.

In China, Air France signed a joint venture agreement reinforcing its co-operation with China Southern, the leading Chinese carrier. This completes the agreement in place since 2006 between KLM and China Southern.

China Airlines, based in Taiwan, signed an agreement to join SkyTeam effective in 2011. SkyTeam will then have five members in the region: Korean Air, China Southern, Vietnam Airlines, China Eastern and China Airlines.

From 31st October, Air France-KLM will offer a fifth daily flight to Tokyo, thereby initiating a service to Haneda airport, just 30 minutes from the city center. This flight will be operated by Japan Airlines.

In Africa, the group announced a significant extension of its network between now and Summer 2011, adding four new destinations, subject to obtaining traffic rights, as well as additional frequencies on eight destinations. As at Winter 2010-11, the group will thus offer 43 destinations and 206 daily frequencies.

The maintenance division signed an important 12 year contract with Air Canada for the maintenance of 18 Boeing 777 engines.

As in the previous two months, September saw a drop in traffic (-3.7%) below the reduction in capacity (-4.9%)  leading  to  a  one point  improvement  in  the  load  factor  to  81.9%.  The  group  carried  6.2 million passengers (-5.3%). Market  conditions are  similar  to  those  prevailing  before  the  summer and  unit revenues remain under pressure.

On  the  Americas  network,  the  decline  in  traffic (-3.9%) was  well below  the  reduction  in  capacity (-6.4%). The load factor gained 2.4 points to 88.3%.
The Asia network continued its slight improvement, with a drop in traffic limited to 3.6% and capacity down 4.4%. The load factor improved by 0.8 points to 87.1%.
On the Africa and Middle East network traffic rose 0.8% with capacity up by 2.6%. The load factor declined by 1.4 points to 77.4%.
The Caribbean and Indian Ocean network saw a significant reduction in capacity (-9.5%). Traffic was down 5.4%, leading to a 3.3 point gain in load factor to 75.9%.
On the European network both capacity and traffic were down by 5.6%.  The load factor was therefore stable at 72.5%.


Cargo business*

The Cargo business saw its load factor improve by 2.2 points to 66.1% on the back of declines in capacity and traffic of 20.0% and 17.2% respectively.
*Both traffic and capacity data for September 2008 are pro-forma including Martinair

Statistics(PDF, 455KB)