Air France-KLM, British Airways See Cargo Improve

Air France-KLM, Europe’s biggest cargo airline, said freight traffic was stable in June for the second month after falling sharply since the final quarter of 2008.

Cargo traffic, measured in revenue ton kilometers, was down just 0.4 per last month from June 2008, an improvement on the one percent year-on-year decline in May.

But excluding Martinair, the Dutch cargo and charter airline that joined Air France-KLM in January, Air France-KLM’s freight traffic fell 17.2 percent in June from a year ago.

Capacity, including freighters, was reduced by 15.4 percent, resulting in a 1.4 percent decline in the load factor, or capacity utilization, to 64.1 percent.

“These figures confirm again the trend towards a stabilization of the cargo activity, with a progressive adjustment of capacity to demand,” the Franco-Dutch carrier said.

At the height of the slump, Air France-KLM’s freight traffic crashed 23.2 percent in January from the previous year.

Including Martinair, cargo volume in the Americas region slipped 10.6 percent in June on a 14 percent reduction in capacity. Asia/Pacific traffic fell 15.4 percent on a 20.1 percent cut in capacity.

The Middle East/Africa network remained buoyant with traffic surging 35.8 percent in June, following a 45 percent rise in May.

British Airways cargo volume declined 9.8 percent in June from the same period in 2008 but revenue rose 5.3 percent, reflecting improved yields. BA trimmed capacity by 2.5 percent last month, leaving the load factor 2.2 points lower at 73.4 percent.

BA’s freight traffic fell 9.5 percent year-on-year in May and by 14.8 percent in April.

BA said it will focus on boosting premium cargoes in a bid to improve its yields, following a relatively strong performance in specialized markets such as pharmaceuticals, perishables, livestock and mail.

Contact Bruce Barnard at brucebarnard47@hotmail.com.