Air France takes cargo hit in March

   Snowy conditions and industrial actions in Paris, combined with a general slowdown and weak performance in international trade, resulted in weak cargo numbers last month, according to Air France-KLM officials.
   Cargo traffic at Air France-KLM fell by 12.1 percent in March on a 6.6 percent decline in capacity. Load factor also fell by 4.1 points to 65.1 percent.
   Cargo activity in the Asia-Pacific region lead the weak cargo numbers for Air France, turning in a 20.5-percent decline in traffic, year over year, on a 16.1-percent reduction in capacity. Cargo flights to the Caribbean and Indian Ocean saw a 13.1-percent reduction in cargo volumes. Activity in Africa and the Middle East was reduced by 8.3 percent, and European traffic fell 7.5 percent, year over year. The Americas region, which experienced a 4.3-percent reduction in activity, performed the best.
   Year-to-date, cargo activity declines were a bit less extreme, with the Asia-Pacifc still heading up the rear at -14.4 percent. The Americas performed the best for the first three months of the year, turning in a -1.5-percent, year-over-year, growth rate on a 0.2-percent drop in capacity.
   Network-wide, Air France-KLM saw a 2.2-percent rise in passenger traffic and a modest, 0.2-percent, increase in capacity. – Jon Ross