Passenger

• Strong increase in traffic (+4.7%)
• Marked improvement in load factor (+5.0 points) to 80.5%

Cargo

• Increase in traffic (+2.1%)
• Significant rise in load factor (+9.9 points) to 72.5%

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In March, the passenger and cargo businesses each showed a further marked recovery both in terms of traffic and unit revenues. Even though unit revenues were significantly above last year’s level, including in premium class, they remained below the levels achieved in March 2008.
Passenger business
Traffic increased by 4.7% in March while capacity was reduced by 1.9%, enabling the load factor to rise by 5.0 points to 80.5%. All networks saw an increase in traffic and load factor. The group carried 5.9 million passengers (+3.6%). Unit revenue per available seat kilometer (RASK) excluding currency was significantly above the level of March 2009. This increase was more pronounced in economy class than in premium class. However, since January, comparables are benefiting from a favorable base.

• On the Americas network, traffic rose by 2.2% with capacity down by 3.1%. The load factor gained 4.4 points to 85.1%. Load factors continued to improve on both North and Latin American routes.
• On the Asia network, traffic improved sharply (+7.2%) while capacity was only slightly up (+0.3%). As a result, the load factor gained 5.8 points to 88.5%.
• On the Africa and Middle East network, traffic increased by 3.4% with capacity down by 3.5%. The load factor gained 5.2 points to 79.2%.
• On the Caribbean and Indian Ocean network, the non-recurrence of the strikes affecting the French Antilles in March last year led to an exceptional increase in traffic (+11.6%) and a 5.5 points load factor recovery to 80.7%.
• The European network also saw an increase in traffic (+2.2%) while capacity was reduced by 4.5%. The load factor therefore stood at 67.2%, a rise of 4.4 points.

Cargo business
Traffic grew by 2.1% while capacity was reduced by 11.8%. As a result, the load factor gained 9.9 points to 72.5%. Unit revenue per available ton kilometer (RATK) continued to improve, and was significantly above the level of March 2009.

Source: KLM
Picture: Rob Vogelaar ZAP16 Group