French-Dutch carrier Air France-KLM said today that it expects to register an operating loss of about 200 million euros (270 million dollars) for fiscal year 2008-2009 because of the effects of the economic crisis and variations in the cost of crude oil, according to dpa. Air France-KLM is also pessimistic for 2009-2010, "which will begin in the context of an unprecedented crisis," the company said in a statement. Air traffic continues to plunge because of the global recession, with air passenger traffic falling by 10.1 per cent in February, the International Air Transport Association said Thursday. As a result, Air France-KLM has reduced passenger capacity by 3.4 per cent and cargo capacity by 15 per cent, and therefore expects a decline of 6 per cent in its turnover for fiscal year 2009-2010. The company's fiscal year ends on March 31. Official results are to be made public on May 19.
