Air France-KLM to raise long-haul capacity

Air France-KLM said it would raise capacity on its long-haul flights by 0.8 per cent this summer as it sees tentative signs of recovery.

Airlines globally have slashed the number of seats on offer during the economic crisis in order to shore up the load factor, or the proportion of seats sold on each flight. The move was designed to stem the losses in average revenue yields per seat. But there have been signs that airlines are starting to add seats on longer routes to prepare for a gradual economic upturn.

Air France-KLM said that despite the additions to long-haul capacity, it would trim its overall offering by 0.3 per cent, reducing capacity on its medium-haul network by four per cent.

"In the wake of 2009, an extremely difficult year for the world economy and air transport in particular, tentative signs of recovery – depending on the country – have been perceived," the airline said in a statement.

The move came as global airline body Iata said capacity had started to return but at a "very cautious rate", so that load factors had reached record levels in January.

Air France, excluding KLM, will reduce the amount of seating available on summer services by 0.9 per cent, driven by a 3.7 per cent cut on medium-haul routes, the Franco-Dutch group said.

Keep up with the latest business news from the region with the Emirates Business 24|7 daily newsletter. To subscribe to the newsletter, please click here.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.