Air France-KLM lost €344 million in the first quarter of this year – although compared with a year ago, revenues rose by 42%, according to its most recent financial results.

Passenger numbers increased by more than a third, to almost 20,000 and its capacity grew by almost 20%.

Marjan Rintel, chief executive, told NOS Radio 1 Journaal that the picture was rosy, despite the losses and travel chaos at Schiphol airport.

‘You could say that the corona crisis is over for us,’ she said. ‘You see customers returning. People want to travel again.’

She added, however, that finding enough parts and technical staff has been an issue and said that KLM had been forced to rent aircraft, causing cost increases in the first three months of this year.

The airline group made a profit in 2022 and last month said it no longer needed to borrow money from the government or banks.