Passenger business
In August 2012, traffic rose by 0.6% for capacity up by 0.6%. The load factor therefore remained stable at 85.7% (-0.1 point). The number of passengers amounted to 6.94 million (+1.4%). Unit revenue per available seat kilometer (RASK) ex-currency increased relative to August 2011.

• Traffic on the Americas network was stable (-0.0%), with a slight rise in capacity (+0.8%); the load factor declined by 0.7 points to 88.8%. 
• The Asia network recorded a 2.9% rise in traffic for capacity up by 3.5%. The load factor declined by 0.5 points to 88.9%.
• The Africa and Middle East network saw declines in both traffic and capacity of 2.0% and 3.6% respectively.  The load factor of 84.8% represented a rise of 1.4 points.
• On the Caribbean and Indian Ocean network traffic declined by 5.1% for capacity down by 5.0%. The load factor remained stable at 84.3%.
• Traffic on the European network rose by 4.2% for capacity up by 3.4% under the effect of the provincial bases. The load factor gained 0.6 points to 78.7%.  

Cargo business
The group has adjusted its full-freighter flight schedule, leading to a 5.2% reduction in capacity. Traffic was down 7.8%, leading to a 1.7 point decline in the load factor to 60.6%. Unit revenue per available ton kilometer (RATK) ex-currency was lower than in August 2011.

Recent developments

• KLM announced the opening of a route to Harare (Zimbabwe) as of 29th October 2012, with three weekly flights operated by Airbus A330. This new route further reinforces the group’s presence in Africa, where three other routes have been opened in 2012: Amsterdam-Luanda (Angola), Paris-Abuja (Nigeria) and Amsterdam-Lusaka (Zambia).
• Aerolineas Argentinas joined the SkyTeam Alliance on 29th August 2012. This first Latin American member of the alliance adds 40 new destinations to the SkyTeam network. Following the entry in 2011 and 2012 of China Eastern, China Airlines, Saudia, Middle-East Airlines and Aerolineas Argentinas, the majority of SkyTeam’s 18 members are now based in high growth markets.

Promotie en dienstverlening
Daarnaast zet KLM haar eigen internationale media in (aan boord en in haar meer dan 70 lokale markten) om potentiële bezoekers te informeren over de beurzen, congressen en evenementen. Ook binnen Amsterdam RAI zal worden geïnvesteerd in het optimaliseren van de gastbeleving, zoals een servicebalie tijdens internationale evenementen voor inchecken en omboeken van reizen.

Samen sterk
De positie van Amsterdam als mainport en internationale beurs- en congresbestemming wordt door de samenwerking verder versterkt. Nederland heeft met KLM en haar grote netwerk, de hub Schiphol en Amsterdam RAI, de (internationale) beurs- en congresganger veel te bieden. Amsterdam RAI is jaarlijks verantwoordelijk voor een substantieel deel van het zakelijk toerisme in Amsterdam. KLM groep vliegt vanaf 185 luchthavens in de wereld rechtstreeks naar Amsterdam en biedt daarmee een directe verbinding met de meeste economische regio’s van de wereld. Als lid van de SkyTeam luchtvaartalliantie is KLM onderdeel van een netwerk dat 921 bestemmingen in 168 landen met elkaar verbindt.

Over Amsterdam RAI
Met een portfolio vol A-merken, de absolute A-locatie ‘Amsterdam’ en een geschiedenis die teruggaat tot 1893, is Amsterdam RAI één van Europa’s meest attractieve en innovatieve congres-,en beursbedrijven. Ieder jaar is Amsterdam RAI gastheer van meer dan 50 internationale congressen, 70 (vak)beurzen, evenementen en meer dan duizend kleinere congressen, meetings, presentaties en andere bijeenkomsten.

Het succes van Amsterdam RAI is gefundeerd in Amsterdam. Op slechts 15 minuten afstand van Schiphol Airport en het citycenter van Amsterdam, wordt het grootste beurs- en congrescentrum van Nederland geëxploiteerd. De 11 multifunctionele beurshallen (87.000m²) en de 48 congres- en vergaderzalen worden omgeven door de dynamiek van wereldstad Amsterdam.

• On the Americas network traffic rose by 9.6%, in line with the increase in capacity (+9.3%). The load factor gained 0.3 points to 90.3%.
• Traffic on the Asia network was up 8.1% for capacity up 6.6%. The load factor stood at 91.4% (+1.3 points). With a load factor of 86%, Japan routes are improving, with traffic 14% lower than last year.
• The Africa and Middle East network continued to be affected by the various crises. Traffic declined by 4.1% for capacity down 3.9%. The load factor was stable at 85.0% (-0.2 points).
• The Caribbean and Indian Ocean network saw a rise of 9.4% in traffic for capacity up by 7.2%. The load factor gained 1.6 points to 83.4%.
• The European network remained dynamic with traffic up by 7.2% for capacity up by 3.8%. The load factor reached 82.0%, a rise of 2.7 points.

Cargo business
The context was comparable to previous months, with unrest in Africa and the Middle East and a situation of overcapacity on Asia departures. Despite strict capacity control (+0.6%), traffic declined by 2.7%, leading to a 2.1 point reduction in load factor to 64.0%. The unit revenue per available ton kilometer (RATK) ex currency declined relative to the previous year.

Recent developments

• On 7th July 2011, the Annual General Meeting approved the change in the financial year end, now fixed at 31st December.
• On 11th July 2011, Air France presented its new offer from Marseille in the context of its ‘provincial bases project’. As of 2nd October 2011, Air France will offer 13 new direct flights. This strategy will be extended in spring 2012 to Toulouse, Nice and Bordeaux.

• On the Americas network, traffic and capacity rose by 1.3% and 1.7% respectively. The load factor declines slightly to 83.4% (-0.3 points).
• The Asia network remained dynamic with traffic up 7.4% for capacity up by 6.4%. The load factor gained 0.7 points to 85.4%.
• The Africa and Middle East network saw traffic up 2.8%, in line with capacity (+2.7%). The load factor remained stable at 76.4%.
• The Caribbean and Indian Ocean network enjoyed a robust level of activity with traffic up 5.4% for stable capacity (+0.2%). The load factor progressed strongly to reach the high level of 84.8% (+4.2 points).
• On the European network, traffic rose 9.3% and capacity by 4.5%. In consequence, the load factor improved 2.8 points to 64.4%.

Cargo business
In January 2011, cargo traffic rose in line with capacity (by 3.4% and 3.3% respectively). The load factor was stable at 64.3%. Unit revenue was compared with January 2010 which already benefited from a more favourable operating environment.

Recent developments
On February 1st, Transavia operated 8 additional flights to Egypt to repatriate 1,500 Dutch tourists.

Middle East Airlines and Saudi Arabia Airlines will shortly join SkyTeam.
SkyTeam will launch an iPhone application available for all passengers travelling on alliance flights.
Air France launched an exclusive news programme on long-haul flights produced by Euronews.