Category Archives: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

Air France-KLM Group posts a €0.3 billion loss in the first quarter

  • Strong demand with 19.7m passengers onboard, up 35% versus 2022
  • Group revenues at €6.3bn, an improvement of €1.9bn (+42%) compared to last yearthanks to continuous strong market demand
  • Group unit cost1 per ASK stable at +0.7% versus 2022
  • Operating result at –€0.3bn with operating margin at -4.8%, above 2022 level (-7.9%)
  • Positive Adjusted operating free cash flow at €0.7bn and solid cash at hand at €9.7bn
  • Net debt down by €0.9bn euros, compared to end of 2022
  • Continued deleveraging: Net debt/EBITDA ratio at 1.5x versus 1.8x end of 2022

Commenting on the results, Mr. Benjamin Smith, Group CEO, said:” In the first quarter, Air France-KLM further capitalized on the recovery momentum in the airline industry. I’d like to thank all my colleagues who have worked tirelessly throughout the quarter to ensure we continue on our path to sustained profitability. The Group continued to show strong revenue growth as well as robust cash flow generation thanks to the very encouraging summer ticket sales. This is paving the way for a busy holiday season across our global network, which all of our teams are actively gearing up for. I am also pleased that we have now fully repaid all State aid, which releases us from the associated restrictions and gives us back our full strategic autonomy. We now stand on our own feet. Looking ahead, we remain focused on further strengthening our balance sheet and delivering the transformation efforts that will enable us to continue to improve our competitiveness while accelerating our decarbonization efforts.“

Statement from KLM regarding Schiphol announcement

Like Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, we believe that our operations should be in balance with our surroundings and the climate. We would prefer to work with the rest of the aviation industry on developing further measures to reduce CO2 emissions and noise pollution.

We are astonished that Schiphol is unilaterally putting forward proposals that will have far-reaching consequences for airlines, without involving the industry parties in this process. Only through a collaborative, sector-wide approach can the aviation industry achieve a balance between its surroundings and the climate. It should be noted that Amsterdam Airport Schiphol itself plays a vital role in this respect, for example in terms of ethical and sustainable employment practices and working conditions at the airport.

Together, we can arrive at an alternative that will have the support of all parties and will therefore be effective. In consultation with the other airlines based at Schiphol, our strategic partner Delta Air Lines, and aviation industry organizations, we will submit our views on this matter to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management by 15 June at the latest. Schiphol remains welcome to join these consultations.

We will revisit Schiphol’s proposals at a later date in the course of the European Union’s Balanced Approach procedure.

Air France-KLM orders four Airbus A350F freighters, to be operated by Martinair for KLM

Air France-KLM Board of Directors has approved a firm order for 4 Airbus A350F full freighter aircraft, to be operated by Martinair on behalf of KLM Cargo.

These Airbus A350Fs will replace the fleet of 4 Boeing 747Fs currently operated by KLM Cargo and Martinair. They will be based at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.

In December 2021, Air France-KLM had placed an order for 4 Airbus A350F full freighter aircraft for Air France.

Deliveries to Martinair and Air France are expected as of the second half of 2026, meaning both airlines will be among the launch operators of the A350F full freighter.

Benefiting from the latest technological innovations and powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, the Airbus A350F delivers significantly improved environmental performance with an over 40% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to the Boeing 747F. Its noise footprint is also 50% lower.

A firm order for 3 additional Airbus A350-900 passenger aircraft for Air France, bringing the total number of A350-900 expected by Air France to 41.

These Airbus A350s will replace previous-generation aircraft and be based at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport.