AF-KLM’s cargo woes continue in September

Air France-KLM saw freight traffic plunge 6.6 percent, year-over-year, in September, a drop in line with the declines the combined carrier recorded in the first eight months of the year. In response to the lower volumes, AF-KLM cut freight capacity by 4.4 percent, year-over-year, last month.

Despite curbing capacity in September, Air France-KLM saw freight load factor fall 1.4 percent, year-over-year, to 63.2 percent. Even so, this is a slight improvement from the carrier’s August load factor — 60.6 percent — and on par with AF-KLM’s eight-month statistics; the combined carrier’s cargo load factor dropped to 63.5 percent in the first eight months of 2012, a 2.5-percent, year-over-year, decline.

Sluggish traffic to the Americas and Asia-Pacific regions has plagued AF-KLM all year long. Although the carrier recorded slight month-over-month growth in both of these regions, AF-KLM’s September freight volumes were still markedly lower than those in September 2011. Volumes to the Asia-Pacific slid 10.1 percent, year-over-year, in September, while AF-KLM’s capacity to this region plunged 14.7 percent, year-over-year.

The carrier actually increased capacity to the Americas region, offering 2.3-percent more freight space than in September 2011. Capacity outmatched demand, however; AF-KLM’s freight volumes to the Americas slid 4.7 percent, year-over-year, in September. Traffic to the Americas also fell from a nine-month perspective, tumbling 6.8 percent, year-over-year.

AF-KLM’s tonnage to Africa/the Middle East dropped steadily in the first nine months of 2012, as well. Freight volumes were 6.2-percent lower than in January-to-September 2011, according to a press release. The carrier saw less drastic declines to Africa/the Middle East in September; volumes only dropped 4.3 percent, year-over-year.

AF-KLM’s performance in the Caribbean/Indian Ocean region bucked the trend, however. In addition to increasing capacity by 7.6 percent, year-over-year, the carrier recorded a 5.9-percent, year-over-year, hike in cargo volumes in September. Growth to this region was flat from a nine-month perspective, although AF-KLM’s capacity surged 6.9 percent from January-to-September 2011.