Air France KLM is confident about the prospects for Brazil's market in 2024, an executive for the airline said on Tuesday, following a year of good results, including high load factors and strong demand. The carrier operates 39 weekly flights in Brazil, including 25 on Air France and 14 on KLM. That is fewer than the 44 weekly flights prior to the COVID-19 pandemic but more than the 32 last year. "We are confident about the potential of Brazil for 2024," Manuel Flahault, France KLM's general manager for South America, told reporters, noting that the Brazilian market has proved to be "very resilient." Air France has flights connecting Paris to Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Fortaleza, as well as a route between Belem and French Guiana's capital Cayenne. KLM flies between Amsterdam and Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Fortaleza. Qatar Airways - which has increased its Sao Paulo-Doha services - and Chile's Latam, which recently retook the lead in US-Brazil traffic for the first time since the pandemic are also optimistic about Brazil. Air France had an average load factor of 91.4% through October in flights connecting Brazil and Europe, while KLM's load factor was 91.3%, said Flahault. The carrier is focused on maintaining the strong numbers in the new year. "Initial signs for the first and second quarters are positive," the executive said.<br/>
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Netherlands carrier KLM will promote Bas Brouns to chief financial officer and managing director in April in succession to Erik Swelheim. Swelheim will step down at the end of his current term on 24 April after 12 years in the role. Brouns is currently senior vice-president, corporate controller at KLM. He has worked at the Dutch carrier for almost 27 years. KLM CE Marjan Rintel says: ”As CFO, Erik played a critical role on our executive committee facing numerous major developments that affected KLM and aviation in general, with the Covid crisis being perhaps the most far-reaching. KLM is back on its feet, thanks in part to Erik’s hard work and dedication. ”In Bas, we have found a worthy successor. I look forward to working with him and the broad knowledge and experience of KLM that he brings.”<br/>