Traffic decline at Air France-KLM Cargo continues for 4th month

AIR FRANCE-KLM, Europe's biggest scheduled cargo carrier, has experienced an air freight volume decline of 19.2 per cent in March compared to the same month a year ago, marking the fourth consecutive month that traffic has decreased by 20 per cent.

The fall in air traffic outstripped an 8.9 per cent reduction in capacity, excluding a capacity reduction at Martinair, the Dutch all-cargo and charter carrier that was consolidated in January.

Including Martinair, Air France-KLM's overall traffic increased by 1.3 per cent year on year on a 12.3 per cent increase in capacity.

The cargo load factor, or capacity utilisation, excluding Martinair's, fell 7.8 points to 61.4 per cent. Including Martinair, the load factor slid 6.8 points to 62.5 per cent, reports Newark's Journal of Commerce.

The Americas region reported a 15.5 per cent rise in volume compared with a 14.6 per cent decline on Asia/Pacific routes, again reflecting the contribution of Martinair, which has a strong presence in the region. Middle East/Africa shipments grew 32.1 per cent, almost matching its 35.6 per cent increase in capacity.

By comparison rival European carrier British Airways reported cargo traffic fell 10 per cent year on year in March, up from declines of 18.5 per cent and 20.7 per cent in January and February respectively.
 

Source: Schednet