Airline Sustainability Indexed

Air France-KLM has been confirmed Leader for sustainable development for 2010 and remains in the two Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes, DJSI World and DJSI Europe, for the sixth year running, according to a press release issued by the group.

Since it was set up in 2004, the group has been confirmed every year as leader in the air transport sector and has been recognised, for the second time, as being the most responsible company, super sector leader, in the “transport and leisure” sector.

“With this recognition, which is an honour for us, Air France-KLM is illustrating its willingness to assume its social and environmental responsibilities. We will continue to be the benchmark for sustainable development in our industry: an ambition which measures up to the important place we occupy in the global air transport industry,” Pierre-Henri Gourgeon, CEO of Air France-KLM, declared.

“I am proud that we have been able to hold on to this position, despite the difficult times we are going through. It is a terrific achievement — proof positive of the successful collaboration between our two companies. We achieved this together and it is a fantastic acknowledgement of everyone’s hard work” Peter Hartman, KLM President & CEO, comfirmed.

The DJSI World groups 10 percent of the leading companies in terms of sustainable development, among 2500 companies in 22 countries worldwide.

Both the DJSI World and DJSI Europe indexes select the leading companies in this field, following a review process conducted by the Swiss group SAM (Sustainable Asset Management Indexes GmbH).

Air France-KLM is also part of the extra-financial indexes Aspi Eurozone, Ethibel Sustainability Index (ESI) Global Excellence and FTSE4Good.

Air France-KLM’s sustainable development report for the financial year 2009-10 can be consulted here.

Air France back to normal

Following the French and European authorities’ decision to progressively lift air traffic restrictions in Europe, Air France can now guarantee a nearly normal flight schedule throughout its network today, Wednesday 21 April, according to a press release issued by airliner.

Since resuming its operations at both the Paris and French provincial airports, Air France has already transported over 40,000 passengers back to France.

Air France is doing all it can to help repatriate all its stranded passengers back to France and Europe.

Photo: An Air France A320 landing at Paris-Charles de Gaulle. Photographer: Philippe Delafosse

Air France to Abu Dhabi

Starting on 3 May 2010, Air France will begin operating a new service between Paris and Abu Dhabi. Flights will be operated by an A330 seating 219, with 40 seats in Business and 179 in Voyageur (Economy). According to an Air France press release today, Air France will also eventually introduce the new Premium Voyageur cabin on flights to this destination.

Flight times are particularly well adapted to ensure fast connections out of Paris-Charles de Gaulle from and to other cities worldwide:

• Flight AF 3848:
  Departing from Paris-Charles de Gaulle, terminal 2E at 13:45 ;
  Arriving at Abu Dhabi at 22:25, local time.
• Flight AF 3849 :
  Departing from Abu Dhabi at 00:30 ;
  Arriving at Paris-Charles de Gaulle, terminal 2E at 05:45, local time.

As from 3 May 2010, Air France will thus be serving seven destinations in the Middle Eas:t Abu Dhabi, Amman, Beirut, Damascus, Dubai, Jeddah and Riyadh.

By summer 2010, Air France and KLM will be operating close to 230 weekly flights to 13 destinations. Their networks are complimentary, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi jointly served by both airlines.

Thanks to combinable fares, customers can travel with either airline between the Middle East and the rest of the world, via the Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol hubs.

French-Dutch traffic decline

According to a press release from Air France/KLM the October passenger load factor went up, with 1.3 points, to 82.5 percent, with capacity reduction (-5.6 percent) exceeding decline in traffic (-4.1 percent). The companies also saw a slight improvement in cardo, with a 67.7 percent load factor.

In other words, traffic once again declined less than capacity, leading to a 1.3 point improvement in load factor, to 82.5 percent. All networks, apart form Africa and the Middle East, saw higher load factors. The group carried 6.3 million passengers.

Although unit revenues remained under pressure, they recorded a lesser decline.

Photo: An Air France A320 landing at Paris-Charles de Gaulle. Photographer: Philippe Delafosse