KLM Cityhopper is evaluating an order for 25 regional jets, with Embraer's E2 family and the Airbus A220 competing for a contract that could break the Dutch carrier's all-Embraer fleet policy. Managing director Maoposts Maarten Koopmans told Valor the airline expects to reach a decision by the end of 2025.

What is KLM Cityhopper flying today?

The regional arm of Air France-KLM operates 61 aircraft across three Embraer types:

• 25 Embraer 195-E2s
• 19 Embraer 190s
• 17 Embraer 175s

KLM Cityhopper has added the E195-E2 since 2021, but every unit in service sits on a lease rather than a direct manufacturer order. The final aircraft from that initial batch entered revenue service by the end of 2025.

Which aircraft are in the running?

The replacement focus falls on the E190, the oldest jets in the fleet. Capacity gaps between candidates make the configuration question central:

• E190: approximately 100 seats
• E195-E2: approximately 136 seats
• Airbus A220-300: approximately 148 seats (operated by Air France)

The source suggests smaller variants — the E190-E2 or the A220-100 — could also enter the review, though both have attracted more limited demand than their larger siblings.

What is the engine situation?

The E2 and A220 share Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan powerplants — the PW1900G on the Embraer and the PW1500G on the Airbus. A broad inspection and repair campaign has disrupted availability and deliveries across both types. Embraer argues its airframe places lighter stress on the engines, contributing to improved in-service reliability — a claim that will require verification against KLM Cityhopper's own dispatch record.

Why does the decision matter beyond the order book?

KLM Cityhopper runs roughly 400 daily flights, positioning it among Europe's largest regional operators. Koopmans framed regional flying as central to the group's hub-and-spoke model, feeding long-haul connections at Amsterdam Schiphol.

"Regional aviation remains central to KLM's business model," Koopmans said, citing connections across Europe as the network's backbone.

The carrier faces a strategic choice: stick with a single OEM to preserve crew and maintenance commonality, or introduce a second type for fleet flexibility and capacity gains.

What cost pressures are shaping the timeline?

Koopmans warned that fuel costs remain a key challenge, with higher prices likely to force adjustments in routes and frequencies on less profitable city pairs. The aircraft decision interacts directly with that calculus — the E2 family's per-seat fuel burn and the A220's larger capacity each carry different break-even load factors against prevailing jet-fuel pricing.

What happens next?

Koopmans said the airline is "reviewing its options" and intends to commit before the calendar turns. A choice for the A220 would mark the first Airbus type operated by KLM Cityhopper. A repeat E2 buy would extend Embraer's monopoly but leave the E190 replacement question partially open, depending on which sub-variant the carrier selects. Watch for a manufacturer announcement, a lessor placement, or a board sign-off before the December reporting cycle closes.