It's almost a turn on the wing for Air France. In its medium-haul flights, the airline plans to reduce ticket prices. In return, benefits (such as seat selection or meal on board) currently included in the fare paid and would become available to the card. Such a formula is in fact the companies that used by low-cost airline Ryanair and easyJet (see below). For Air France and for British Airways or Lufthansa, the conclusion is the same: after a thrill-back this summer, the traffic looks bleak this fall. "Summer is traditionally a good period for our business, explains a part of Air France.The key event was the start of September and the results are clearly wrong. "Lowered activity in the three European competitors is for the success of low-cost companies, but also in France, competition from the TGV.
For Air France, British Airways and Lufthansa, the evils are the same: the number of passengers falling and business is back on economy class. This causes a drop in revenue and profit lines. British Airways is the most mistreated because she is very exposed to the Atlantic. The company recorded a 7.9% decrease in the number of premium passengers in September. In turn, the economy class traffic was up 0.7%. British Airways has reached an operating loss of 94 million pounds in the first quarter of fiscal year 2009-2010.To redress the balance, the company has begun downsizing.
At Air France-KLM, income (per seat per kilometer) fell 8.1% in the first quarter of 2009 in economy class and 18.2% in business class. In the first quarter of fiscal 2009-2010, the Franco-Dutch company had a net loss of 426 million euros. For now, analysts expect 850 million loss this year. To pass the turbulence, Air France can rely on its network in Africa, Oceania and the Caribbean. "He who holds the company," said an officer.
Freeze
Lufthansa seems to suffer far less from the crisis. It was at the German company that signs of recovery have been the most tangible this summer with an activity greater than that of the 2008 season.The group relies on a greater presence in Asia and a business alliance – Star Alliance – more comprehensive than SkyTeam (which includes Air France-KLM).
To restart, Air France is therefore preparing the revision of the tender medium-mail. It has also launched its new premium class traveler. Objective: To bring the business to the front of the camera. The company also announced in September a plan for voluntary departures than 1 500 people. The news relieved the unions who feared a major plan. Reportedly, in 2007, an audit at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) have advocated the abolition of 30% of posts in support functions, that is to say earth, about 10 000 people. "All our social model is based on economic growth, explains a part of Air France. We have 4% growth to begin to reduce our unit costs.This crisis calls into question our development model. "Meanwhile, Lufthansa has frozen hiring since mid-2008, introduced part-time for 3 500 employees. These plans assume a swift economic recovery. So, in France as in Germany, employees are afraid of social plans more consistent if the passengers were slow to return.
"On board the A380 Air France