KLM and German Airways: The Embraer E190 Routes Flying This Winter
KLM will operate German Airways Embraer E190 aircraft across eight European routes during the Northern Winter 2026/27 season.
By The Aviation Hub
3 min read
KLM German Airways operations will see KLM Royal Dutch Airlines continue to deploy German Airways Embraer E190 aircraft across a set of eight European routes during the Northern Winter 2026/27 season, running from 25 October 2026 to 27 March 2027.
The arrangement sees KLM use a leased E190, operated by German carrier German Airways, to serve thinner point-to-point routes from its Amsterdam Schiphol hub. According to AeroRoutes, the operational schedule appeared in filing data over recent weeks.
The KLM German Airways E190 Routes for Winter 2026/27
The leased Embraer E190 will cover a wide spread of European city pairs. AeroRoutes reports the following schedule from Amsterdam:
Amsterdam to Düsseldorf will be served twice daily, rising to three times on Saturdays. Amsterdam to London City will receive the highest frequency of the network, at 12 times per week, making it the busiest route on the E190's winter programme.
Amsterdam to Prague and Amsterdam to Stuttgart will each operate once daily. Amsterdam to Krakow and Amsterdam to Luxembourg will each run six times per week.
Amsterdam to Gothenburg will operate once weekly, on Saturdays. Amsterdam to Nuremberg will also run on Saturdays, with the exception of 21 November 2026.
Why These Routes Suit the E190
The Embraer E190 is a single-aisle, twin-engine regional jet seating around 100 passengers in a typical two-class configuration. It is well suited to shorter European sectors where demand does not justify the capacity of KLM's mainline Airbus or Boeing narrowbodies.
The London City route is a particular fit for the type. London City Airport (LCY) imposes strict noise and performance requirements that favour smaller regional jets, and the E190 meets those constraints comfortably.
You can explore the full capabilities of the type using our Aircraft Search tool.
What the German Airways Partnership Means for KLM
Wet-lease arrangements, where an airline provides the aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance for another carrier, allow the contracting airline to expand or maintain capacity without taking on additional fleet risk. For KLM, the German Airways deal allows it to serve lower-demand routes on its own metal and under its own flight numbers without committing to ownership of additional regional jets.
German Airways, based in Germany, specialises in providing wet-lease capacity to European network carriers. The continuation of the arrangement into a second winter season indicates that KLM views the partnership as an effective way to sustain connectivity across its European network.
The Broader Context for European Aviation This Winter
The winter season arrives at a difficult moment for European carriers. The Guardian reports that Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has warned that European air fares could rise by as much as 20% in 2027, driven by sharply higher jet fuel costs following the conflict in the Middle East.
O'Leary said that most European carriers, including Ryanair, are 85% unhedged for 2027, with spot fuel rates currently running at roughly double the level of existing hedging contracts. That cost pressure may shape which routes and capacity levels airlines choose to maintain through the coming year.
For KLM, the wet-lease model with German Airways offers a degree of flexibility in that environment, allowing it to scale regional capacity without locking in the fixed costs of additional owned aircraft.
The Bottom Line
KLM's German Airways E190 programme for Northern Winter 2026/27 covers eight routes from Amsterdam, led in frequency by the London City service at 12 weekly flights. The arrangement reflects a broader industry trend of using wet-lease partnerships to maintain regional connectivity efficiently.
With fuel costs a growing concern across European aviation, the flexibility of the leased E190 model may prove to be an increasingly attractive option for network carriers looking to protect thinner routes. Keep an eye on KLM's schedule filings as the season progresses for any adjustments to frequencies or routing.
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