Air France-KLM's cargo volumes continue to slide, down 9.9pc in October

AIR FRANCE-KLM has suffered a decline in cargo traffic destined for Asia Pacific with volumes falling 9.9 per cent in October year on year.

This follows a 10.1 per cent year-on-year, marked by a decline in Asian cargo volume in September. On the other hand, the combined airline reduced capacity to Asia Pacific by 13.6 per cent, year-on-year, in October, which resulted in a 3.3 per cent improvement in the freight load factor, according to Air Cargo World, near Atlanta, Georgia.

Weak traffic to the Americas region also had a negative impact in October, with volumes diving 4.9 per cent year on year on a 3.7 per cent capacity drop. The load factor to the Americas dropped slightly last month, falling 0.8 per cent, year-on-year to 65.4 per cent.

During the first 10 months of the year cargo volumes to the Americas shrunk by 6.6 per cent compared to the same period last year on a 0.1 per cent capacity decline. As a result, the carrier's freight load factor in the first 10 months of 2012 dropped 4.4 per cent year on year.

Freight traffic to Africa/the Middle East region also fell 5.9 per cent from January to October on a 1.6 per cent year-on-year capacity drop. In October the airline responded by cutting capacity to Africa and the Middle East 3.4 per cent, while traffic decreased 3.8 per cent year on year.

Freight volumes to the Caribbean and Indian Ocean region were flat in October, down 0.9 per cent year on year on a 2.1 per cent capacity reduction. The cargo load factor rose 0.6 per cent in October to 43.4 per cent.

In total, AF-KLM's cargo volumes declined 6.7 per cent year on year in October while the load factor rose 0.3 per cent to a freight load factor of 66.6 per cent.