Strike action by Air France pilots in September will hit full-year EBITDA to the tune of €500 million ($633 million), the parent group warns.
In a traffic update, Air France-KLM says "the impact on revenue, net of the expenses avoided, together with all the additional costs" of the 14-day strike cost it between €320 million and €350 million in the third quarter – but the French flag carrier has also seen a "one- to two-point delay in fourth-quarter booking trends". While it is impossible to "precisely to apportion responsibility" for this, the group is estimating the total impact at €500 million.
Group traffic fell 15.9% in September, as capacity was cut 16.7%. Load factor was up 0.8 percentage points, at 86.1%.
Cargo traffic declined 17.7% as capacity was reduced 16.6%.
Low-cost arm Transavia was the only part of the business to grow traffic, boosting revenue passenger-kilometres 8.9%. Capacity was increased 10.3%.
In the winter season, Transavia – plans for which were at the heart of the dispute with Air France pilots – is to boost capacity 13.3%, with a particular focus on France, where it will add 56%.
Pilots union SNPL called off its strike on 29 September, but its dispute with Air France has yet to be resolved.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
