Air France-KLM Loss Narrows on Premium Travel, Cheaper Fuel

Air France-KLM reported a narrower first-quarter loss as the airline benefited from a lower fuel bill, cost cuts and consistently strong demand for premium travel.

The operating loss shrank by one-third to €328 million ($374 million) from the year-ago period, while revenue advanced 7.7% to about €7.2 billion, the Franco-Dutch airline group said in a statement on Wednesday. Analysts in a Bloomberg survey had estimated an operating loss of €390.2 million. Airlines typically lose money in the first quarter after the slow winter months.