Losses worsen for Air France-KLM

Air France-KLM says its losses mounted sharply in the first quarter compared with a year earlier, when earnings were boosted by a gain in the value of oil price hedging contracts the airline uses to manage its fuel costs.

Air France-KLM says it lost €630m in the January-March quarter, compared with a loss of €379m a year earlier.

Last year’s result benefited from a €220m gain on the airline’s hedging contracts.

The airline, in the midst of a three-year turnaround plan, says it is hoping to strengthen its position by paying down debt and reducing staff costs further.

Air France-KLM is struggling to compete against low-cost carriers and has said it expects to cut about 5,000 people in its workforce of 49,000.