Airline group Air France-KLM said on Wednesday it had booked operating profit of €1.3bn last year, of which over €1m came from the Dutch arm.

Air France, which was hit by strikes last year, contributed €266m to the operating profit, down some €600m on a year ago.

The news comes as the Air France-KLM holding company confirmed that KLM chief executive Pieter Elbers will stay in the job for a further four years. In return, chief executive Ben Smith from the Air France-KLM holding will have a seat on the supervisory board of KLM.

There had been speculation Elbers would be removed from the post because of his opposition to further ties between the two airlines. Smith is known to be keen to see Air France and KLM unify through common aircraft orders, alliances and flight programmes but the plans have caused unease in the Netherlands.

Last week finance minister Wopke Hoekstra and transport minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen held talks with Smith to stress the importance of KLM’s independent position within the group and on the crucial nature of Schiphol airport to the Dutch economy, NOS reported.

Smith did not comment after Friday’s meeting but Hoekstra said the talks were ‘good and intensive’. ‘Thousands and thousands of Dutch jobs are involved,’ he said, adding that the Netherlands wants these to be guaranteed in the long term.

The Dutch state owns a 6% stake in Air France-KLM which was formed in 2004.