- Air France-KLM has exceeded third-quarter operating profit expectations
- The group posted an operating profit of €1.34bn against analyst projections of €1.1bn
- Capacity growth for 2026 has been revised to 2pc from a range of 2pc to 3pc
- Fuel costs for 2026 are now expected at $9.2bn, up from $8.9bn
- KLM will reduce positions by almost another 15pc, resulting in around 1,000 fewer roles
Air France-KLM has exceeded third-quarter operating profit expectations while cutting its capacity growth forecast for the year and raising its projected fuel bill. The group posted an operating profit of €1.34bn compared with €1.1bn projected by analysts. The result was driven in large part by strong demand for non-stop flights to India and Asia and the success of its expanding premium offering.
The airline group revised its capacity projection for 2026 to 2pc, replacing an earlier range of 2pc to 3pc. Fuel costs for 2026 are now expected at $9.2bn, up from an earlier forecast of $8.9bn. Spot Northwest European aviation fuel prices fell 12pc this week to their lowest level since August, tracking a broader decline in oil prices.
KLM revealed in a separate statement that the number of positions will drop by almost another 15pc, resulting in around 1,000 fewer positions out of 5,000 in total affected by the latest reorganisation. The Dutch airline flagged fleet modernisation and a reorganisation of activities in ground handling, cargo and engineering and maintenance as part of efforts to slash costs and increase profitability.
Ben Smith shared “Demand across key strategic markets, combined with strong commercial execution, drove an increase in unit revenue, while continued cost discipline alongside a well-managed fuel bill kept unit costs broadly stable.”
Bas Brouns shared “Improving our annual earnings by €1 billion is essential to delivering our strategy.”
