1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
Live TV
Latest audioLatest videos
In focus
India electionsIranIsrael-Hamas war

Airline downsizes

jc/dm afp/dpa/apApril 15, 2009

Europe's largest air carrier is planning to continue job cuts begun in the 2008-9 business year. It says it can reduce staff without forced redundancies, but that will depend on the economy.

https://p.dw.com/p/HXcl
A man stands at an Air France boarding desk
Amidst declining demand, jobs are being cutImage: AP

Air France-KLM made the news public in Paris on Wednesday, April 15.

"We should reduce our staff by 2500 to 3000 in the next two financial years," an airline spokeswoman told AFP news agency.

The airline shed around a thousand jobs in the business year 2008-2009 by not filling vacant positions and by terminating temporary contracts. Air France-KLM hopes that further cuts can be made by the same means.

The entire Air France-KLM group employs some 104,000 people, but what once was Europe's most profitable airline is having to cope with drops in revenue.

The carrier lost 505 million euros ($665 million) in the final quarter of 2008 and expects operative losses for the entire preceding business year to run at 200 million euros.

In March, passenger numbers dropped by 9-10 percent compared with the previous year.

Skip next section Explore more

Explore more

A worker at an Airbus plant near Hamburg

EADS Posts Strong Profit Despite Downturn

EADS Posts Strong Profit Despite Downturn

EADS, the parent company of planemaker Airbus, said its fourth-quarter net profit jumped 89 percent on higher deliveries of helicopters and airplanes despite the global economic downturn. (10.03.2009)
March 10, 2009
Tailfins of Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa jets

EU to Investigate Lufthansa Buyout of Austrian Airlines

EU to Investigate Lufthansa Buyout of Austrian Airlines

The European Commission launched a probe into claims that Germany's Lufthansa may not be paying enough for Austrian Airlines in its bid to create Europe's largest carrier. (12.02.2009)
February 12, 2009

Lufthansa's Italian Airline set for Takeoff

Lufthansa's Italian Airline set for Takeoff

Lufthansa Italia, the new airline which is set to challenge Alitalia in Italy's skies, is to make its maiden flight on Monday. It will focus on the northern city of Milan. (01.02.2009)
February 1, 2009