Air France-KLM loses 70 mn euros due to snow

PARIS: Air France-KLM said on Monday that bad weather in December that led to the closure of airports across Europe cost the company an estimated 70 million euros ($90 million), the Franco-Dutch airline said in a statement.

"The passenger and cargo activities were each affected by the periods of heavy snowfall in December in both Europe and the United States," the airline said. "Unit revenues rose slightly in passenger and more strongly in cargo. The impact on revenues of these weather disruptions is estimated at 70 million euros," it said.

The figure was double what the airline had forecast last month, when it forecast weather-related losses of 25-35 million euros. Passenger numbers for the month dropped by 1.6 percent to 5.4 million, with medium-haul flights worst affected.

Aeroports de Paris (ADP), the company which runs the main French airports, has come under severe criticism for long delays and chaos for passengers at the main Paris airport Roissy Charles de Gaulle during the bad weather before Christmas.

Roissy airport is the main hub used by Air France. Another main European hub, Heathrow airport near London, has also been strongly criticised for delays and chaos.