In the context of technical difficulties related to its Embraer E195-E2s powerplant, KLM Cityhopper and German Airways will extend their partnership this year. The new agreement includes the lease of five E190 and their respective crews.
According to Planespotters.net, five of the fifteen E195-E2 in the fleet of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines’ regional subsidiary are temporarily out of service as a result of problems with their Pratt & Whitney engines.
The flight schedule for the summer season will be affected, which will be a challenge for the operator. In this context, adding new aircraft to expand available capacity is essential.
See also: KLM Cityhopper grounds several Embraer E195-E2 due to Pratt & Whitney engines problems
KLM Cityhopper to lease five Embraer E190 from German Airways to support its operations
Under the current contract, in force since February, the two companies agreed to lease five Embraer E190 and their crews. The aircraft will be added over the course of the summer season and will be fully available during the coming winter. They also announced their intention to extend the agreement in 2024.
A German Airways Embraer E190 based in Düsseldorf has been operating for KLM Cityhopper since the end of February. A month later, another one based in Stuttgart began operating for the Dutch carrier to support its summer schedule.
From mid-June, a third airplane based in Basel will be added. Finally, another two aircraft, based in Aalborg and Frankfurt am Main, will be added during July.
«The past months have shown that both companies are satisfied with the cooperation», said Maren Wolters, Managing Director of German Airways. «We bring a very reliable service and a highly motivated team, and we are very pleased to be able to support KLM Cityhopper as an integral part of the flight operations there», she added.
Engine problems affect KLM Cityhopper’s operation
In recent weeks, airlines around the world have faced shortages of engines and spare parts, especially for their latest-generation narrow-body aircraft. For its part, Pratt & Whitney faces its own challenges, as its suppliers struggle with a backlog of sub-component orders.
KLM Cityhopper had already indicated that the lease of other regional aircraft would be extended for a longer period in order to add capacity as some of its E195-E2s are unavailable.
The agreement with German Airways provides for the wet lease of five aircraft. Under this arrangement, the aircraft changes operator with its crew, maintenance personnel and insurance contracts for a specified period of time.
This is a common practice between operators to meet seasonal or specific demands. Both parties involved must hold an operator’s certificate entitling them to have aircraft and personnel authorised to carry passengers in exchange for financial compensation.
