One of the world’s largest airline groups recalibrates plans for 2026 after the war between the US and Iran puts pressure on the sector’s costs
Air group Air France-KLM, one of the largest in the world, has reduced its growth forecasts for 2026. The company expects further increases in aviation fuel costs.
The rise in prices is driven by. Brent reached US$ 126 this Thursday (April 30, 2026), before returning to US$ 110.
The conflict between States and Iran and , through which 20% of the oil consumed in the world passes, caused the volatility seen in the asset’s price.
According to the new estimate, Air France-KLM will grow between 2% and 4% of its capacity this year. The previous forecast was 3% to 5%.
The company projects that fuel spending in 2026 will reach US$9.3 billion – an increase of US$2.4 billion compared to 2025.
In the 1st quarter, Air France-KLM reported revenue of €7.48 billion. The value represents an increase of 4.4% compared to the previous year and in line with analysts’ expectations.
The company recorded an operating loss of €27 million, with an operating margin of -0.4%. However, the negative balance was lower than the €351 million expected by the airline group itself.
The number of passengers rose 2.3% in the same period compared to the previous year, reaching 22.3 million.
