PARIS, Feb 14, 2007 (AFP) - Air France-KLM said Wednesday it was set for healthy results in the 2006-2007 financial year after reporting that third quarter net profit had tripled to 229 million euros (299 million dollars) from the same period a year earlier.

The airline said the strong third quarter results were helped by easing oil prices and strong passenger traffic but warned that it expected to only break even in the fourth quarter.

It nevertheless expected the 2006-2007 year to show "a very good level of results," it said in a statement.

Air France cited traffic levels, unit revenues, forward bookings and fuel costs as factors that would drag down the fourth quarter results.

Third quarter sales were 5.751 billion euros, up 5.9 percent from a year earlier, and operating profit was 252 million euros, up 32.6 percent, Air France said.

Nine-months net profit fell to 847 million euros from 906 million euros. Nine-months sales were 17.684 billion euros, up 8.8 percent, and operating profit was 1.231 billion, up 31.0 percent.

Copyright AFP

Subject: French news, Air France-KLM