With 3.6 million passengers carried in March 2020, the Air France-KLM group recorded a decline of 56.6% compared to March 2019. The group was "strongly impacted by the Covid-19, reflecting the gradual extension capacity reductions following the global expansion of the virus, "he said in a statement.

According to Air France-KLM estimates for April and May, more than 90% of the planned capacity will be suspended due to travel restrictions imposed worldwide to counter the pandemic.

In March, Air France-KLM and its low-cost subsidiary Transavia operated "special flights to repatriate citizens to their country of origin, in close collaboration with the French and Dutch governments," said the group.

The mobilization of our teams in recent weeks has enabled more than 240,000 people, including 130,000 French, to return home. We continue to organize the return of nationals in close coordination with @francediplo. #AirFranceAvecVous pic.twitter.com/YASnYcmY10

- Air France FR (@AirFranceFR) April 8, 2020

Air France-KLM specifies that it will not be able to provide information beyond May 2020, "due to the high level of uncertainty over the duration of the crisis", and adds that it "follows the evolution of the daily situation by evaluating accordingly if additional adjustments are necessary on the network. "

"Massive support" from the French State

Invited Wednesday evening on France 2, the French Minister of Economy, Bruno Le Maire, reaffirmed that Air France would benefit from "massive support" from the State, the only solution for the airline to get out of the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

>> "Coronavirus: the French economy collapses in the first quarter"

"Almost all the planes are nailed to the ground, there is almost no more air traffic, Air France loses billions of euros per month," said the minister. "It is not a boost that Air France will need, it is massive support from the State," he said, adding: "Air France will have this massive support from from the State. We want to preserve this airline, which is a French industrial flagship, at all costs. "

With Reuters

The France 24 week summary invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news everywhere with you! Download the France 24 app

google-play-badge_FR