Air France-KLM reports huge Q2 loss, sees signs of recovery

French-Dutch airline group Air France-KLM says that the “first signs of recovery are visible” in bookings amid easing pandemic travel restrictions

THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- French-Dutch airline group Air France-KLM said Friday that the “first signs of recovery are visible” in bookings amid easing pandemic travel restrictions as it reported a second-quarter net loss of nearly 1.5 billion euros ($1.8 billion). The group's fleet of planes carried just over 7 million passengers in the year's second quarter, a rise of 477% compared to the same quarter last year, when strict lockdowns and travel restrictions slammed the brakes on the global aviation industry. With many countries now easing those restrictions amid vaccination campaigns, travelers are taking to the skies once more. "Reciprocity of borders reopening and the acceleration of the vaccination rollout worldwide, especially in the context of the rise of the delta variant, will play a key role in maintaining this momentum.” said group CEO Benjamin Smith.