Unsurprisingly, the Group's balance sheet Air France-KLMreviewed on 6 May by the Group's Board of Directors, has been disrupted by the Covid-19 effect. According to the figures unveiled by the airline group, operating income of -815 million euros is down 529 million euros on the previous year: a fall of " entirely due to the March 2020 operating loss of €560 million "says the press release. And yet the year had started well, as underlined by Benjamin SmithCEO of the Air France-KLM group: " The Air France - KLM group has made a promising start to the first quarter, in line with the objectives of the strategic plan presented in November 2019. However, the acceleration of the Covid-19 crisis in March had a major impact on the Group's first-quarter results. ".
Air France KLM will nevertheless be able to count on support from the French governmentwith a €7 billion loan, of which the counterparties were not lost on Benjamin Smith: " We are working on a new plan to ensure that the Air France-KLM group regains its competitiveness in a profoundly changed world and reaffirms its leadership in the sustainable transition of air transport. These new orientations will be presented in the coming months "says the head of the Air France KLM group.
As for the future, the group is still taking a very cautious view, like its competitor Lufthansa. Referring to a " high level of uncertainty about the duration of the Covid-19 crisis and its impact on the macroeconomic environment "Air France KLM's management expects " a slow recovery in activity in the summer of 2020, with the gradual lifting of border restrictions, with a capacity of around -95% for the second quarter of 2020 and -80% for the third quarter of 2020 compared with last year ". Aware that demand will not be able to return to 2019 levels for several years, Air France KLM management is already planning to revise its offer downwards for next year, with " a structural reduction in capacity of at least -20% in 2021 compared with pre-crisis levels in 2019 ".
Masks, temperature: Air France's health measuresFollowing the example of all transport operators, Air France is now imposing the wearing a maskmandatory from 11 May. Relying on significantly lower occupancy rates, the airline is nevertheless counting on these masks to act as a "barrier" when the number of passengers on board the aircraft does not allow for an adequate number of seats. distancing sufficient: " on most flights, the current low occupancy rates mean that a physical distance can be maintained. Where this is not the case, the wearing of masks by all passengers and crew guarantees adequate health protection." says the airline. In addition, the carrier is focusing on its air recycling system and on cleaning the aircraft, in particular by disinfecting the armrests, tablets and screens, and plans to spray a virucide product. Another measure: the suspension of on-board sales and the paper press. Air France has also adapted its airport system, with Plexiglas counters, disinfected self-service kiosks and hydro-alcoholic gel available throughout the passenger journey. In addition, 11 May also marks the start of the deployment of a temperature checks on departure of all Air France flights. Passengers will be checked with infrared thermometers, and ". a temperature below 38°C is required to be able to travel "says the company. " Customers with a temperature higher than this value may be refused boarding and their reservation will be changed free of charge for a later departure." he added. |
