Air France-KLM takes €50m hit from Paris attacks

PanARMENIAN.Net - The November 13 attacks in Paris had an impact of €50m on last month's revenues, Air France-KLM said on December 8, but the airline said it saw the effect largely wearing off by the end of December, RTE reports.

The French-Dutch airline group said the attacks in which 130 people were killed "significantly impacted" November traffic to and from Paris.

Its planes had been carrying considerably more passengers to and from the city before the attacks, compared with the same month in 2014, but then fell below last year's rate.

"The negative impact of the Paris attacks on total November revenues is estimated to be around €50m," said Air France-KLM in its monthly traffic update.

"Current booking trends are in line with a progressive recovery including a very limited impact on volumes after the end of December 2015," the airline added.

The €50m was just 0.2% of last year's annual revenues, but was undoubtedly a much higher percentage of revenue earned through its key Paris hubs, although the airline does not break out the figures.

The airline's experience dovetails with that of Paris hotels and shops, which reported a sharp decline in business immediately after the attacks that has slowly begun to return to normal.

With tourism accounting for some 7% of gross domestic product for France, which ranks as the top global tourist destination, there has been considerable angst the attacks could weaken the country's already anaemic growth.