Air France KLM Martinair Cargo reported a 25.2% year-on-year rise in third-quarter revenues to €677m, with volumes up 5% to 236,000 tons as shippers shifted urgent freight to air amid Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz disruption. Traffic rose 8% to 1.8bn RTK and the load factor gained 2.4 points to 46%. The carrier said AI supply chain demand tightened the market, offsetting a post-July drop in Asia-Europe e-commerce volumes. Group revenue reached €9.9bn, up 7.6%, while KLM separately said it will bring Schiphol cargo handling in-house ahead of a new terminal due in 2035.
According to Air Cargo News, Air France KLM Martinair (AFKLMP) Cargo posted a 25.2% year-on-year increase in third-quarter revenues to €677m, as shippers continued to route urgent freight by air to sidestep disruption in ocean shipping.
Volumes and load factor climb
The cargo division moved 236,000 tons in the quarter, a 5% increase year on year, according to the report. Traffic measured in revenue tonne kilometres rose 8% to 1.8bn RTK, while capacity grew 2.3% to 3.9bn available RTK.
The cargo load factor improved by 2.4 percentage points to 46%, reflecting demand that ran ahead of capacity growth during the quarter. The carrier said freighter availability was constrained by both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance.
The airline attributed the performance to two forces that more than offset a drop in e-commerce volumes from Asia to Europe after an import charge took effect in July: rerouted ocean freight and demand tied to AI supply chains.
Red Sea disruption and AI demand tighten the market
AFKLMP Cargo said disruption to maritime routes around the Suez Canal and the Strait of Hormuz pushed some shippers to move urgent, high-value goods by air, while AI-related supply chains added to the pull on capacity.
“Demand continued to outpace capacity growth, supported by disruption to maritime routes around the Suez Canal and Strait of Hormuz, which led some shippers to move urgent, high-value goods by air.” — AFKLMP Cargo
The company said the tighter market created openings to attract additional cargo volumes and to run full freighter charters, supporting yield performance across the Group’s network. It added that these factors cushioned the business against a sharp decline in e-commerce shipments from Asia following the taxation of small parcels.
Group results and Lufthansa comparison
At group level, Air France KLM Group reported third-quarter revenues of €9.9bn, up 7.6%, with net income rising 22.1% to €938m.
German rival Lufthansa Cargo recorded an 11% increase in cargo traffic for the same quarter and a 26% rise in revenues. The Frankfurt-based carrier said it benefited from broad-based regional growth, additional flights to India, and demand from the pharmaceutical and semiconductor sectors.
KLM consolidates Schiphol cargo handling
The results were published on the same day KLM announced it will consolidate its cargo handling activities at Schiphol into its own warehouse as part of measures to improve financial performance.
KLM said the move will help prepare KLM Cargo for a new cargo terminal scheduled for completion in 2035 and enable it to attract more transfer cargo passing through Schiphol.
The consolidation follows a 2024 agreement under which Menzies Aviation was to provide cargo warehouse and ramp handling services for all KLM/Martinair freighter operations at Schiphol for five years.
Source: Air Cargo News
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
