Air France-KLM Posts Profit Jump Though Traffic Misses Views

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Air France-KLM and other airlines have been benefiting from robust demand for air travel, repairing balance sheets damaged by prolonged restrictions during the pandemic.

Photographer: Nathan Laine/Bloomberg
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Air France-KLM reported a surge in third-quarter profit, though concerns about rising geopolitical tensions muted the benefits of strong summer demand.

Operating income advanced 31% from a year earlier to a record €1.34 billion ($1.4 billion), slightly below analysts’ estimates. Capacity reached 94% of the comparable pre-pandemic quarter in 2019 — under the company’s target for a 95% ratio.