KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will resume service to Dubai, Riyadh and Dammam from October 25, 2026, restoring three Gulf routes the carrier suspended on February 28, 2026, after the start of the US-Israel-Iran military conflict.

The Dutch flag carrier's winter schedule, published on September 22, 2026, covers 164 destinations across 64 countries — 93 inside Europe and 71 outside — and marks the first commercial deployment of KLM's Airbus A350-900, with the type entering revenue service on Amsterdam-Toronto.

"The exact timetable will depend on the situation in the Middle East at that time," KLM said in a statement accompanying the schedule release, leaving the Gulf relaunch conditional on regional security even as multiple competitors have already restored service to Dubai and other hubs.

What does the winter schedule cover?

The IATA winter period runs to March 27, 2027. KLM extended the Gulf suspensions several times between March and September 2026, even as other operators, including European network carriers and Gulf-based rivals, returned to the region.

KLM resumed Amsterdam-Tel Aviv on August 25, 2026, and will continue operating the route through the winter. Adding the Israeli service to the planned Gulf relaunch would bring KLM's Middle East footprint to four cities, contingent on security conditions.

How is the A350 rollout structured?

KLM's first A350-900 commercial flight will operate to Toronto. The carrier will serve Canada's largest city 12 times a week, including five flights operated by the new widebody. As more A350s join during the winter, the type will rotate onto Montreal, Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Nairobi.

The A350 introduction runs in parallel with the continued phase-out of the Airbus A330-200, narrowing the long-haul twin types in the fleet. The transition will be visible in the schedule, with A350 rotation on long-haul leisure and African routes through the second half of the winter.

Which routes are gaining capacity?

Network additions and frequency increases for winter 2026-2027 include:

• Minneapolis returns to the schedule for the first time since winter 2023
• San Diego served throughout the full winter season for the first time
• Panama City up to 10 weekly flights in peak periods
• São Paulo 9 weekly flights
• Rovaniemi and Kittilä one additional weekly frequency each
• Florence and Basel one additional daily frequency

The North American additions, both to existing SkyTeam hubs, point to KLM prioritising transatlantic connectivity over Gulf expansion in the early winter months.

What is KLM's commercial framing?

"Our passengers want to reach their destinations smoothly and feel recognised and at ease throughout their journey," Marjan Rintel, President and CEO of KLM, said. "That is why we are offering a wider choice of flights this winter, focusing on personal service and continuing to invest in comfort and the renewal of our fleet."

Rintel's comments frame the schedule around network choice and fleet renewal rather than recovery from the Middle East disruption. The carrier's Gulf return, however, will set the pace for restoring long-haul capacity to markets that competitors have already reopened, and the A350's entry into service will be the most visible fleet milestone of the season.

The Dubai, Riyadh and Dammam relaunch hinges on Middle East security conditions through the winter, while the A350's Toronto debut anchors KLM's fleet renewal through 2027.