Further decline in cargo traffic

As previously indicated, March 2009 saw a further marked deterioration in the operating environment.
Despite  an  almost 3% reduction in  capacity,  traffic  declined  by  9.4%,  affecting  all  the  networks.  This decline was accompanied by a significant deterioration in unit revenues. The load factor was down by 5.5 points to 75.5%. The group carried 5.6 million passengers (-9.8%).
- On the Americas network, traffic fell 6.9% with a 1.6% reduction in capacity. The load factor remained
high at 80.7% but this nevertheless amounted to a 4.6 point decline.
- On the Asia network, capacity was strongly reduced (-6.4%) but traffic fell by 10.7%. The load factor
therefore declined by 3.9 points, albeit remaining at the high level of 82.7%.
- Traffic on the Africa and Middle East network dropped 5.6% while capacity was virtually stable
(-0.1%). The load factor stood at 74.1% (-4.3 points).
- As in February, traffic on the Caribbean and Indian Ocean network was impacted by strike action in
the  French  Antilles,  recording  a  drop  of  16.9%. Capacity  was  reduced  by  6.0%.  The  load  factor
declined by 9.8 points to 75.2%.  
- Conditions on the European network remain tough. Traffic fell by 9.8% while capacity was down by
1.0%, leading to a 6.1 point drop in the load factor to 62.9%.

Cargo business
Since  January  1st  2009,  the  group  has  consolidated  the  cargo  business  of  Martinair,  the  latter’s  main
activity. Including Martinair, traffic rose 1.3% for capacity up 12.3%. The load factor therefore declined by
6.8  points  to  62.5%.  Excluding  Martinair,  March  2009  traffic  and  capacity  fell  by  19.2%  and  8.9%
respectively, leading to a 7.8 point deterioration in the load factor to 61.4%.
 

Source: Transportweekly