KLM to Cut About 5,000 Positions, Shift More European Flying to Embraer Jets

AMSTERDAM, November 5, 2026 — KLM has announced a restructuring that touches about 5,000 positions, close to 15% of its workforce, on the same day parent Air France-KLM reported a stronger third quarter.

What KLM announced

Scale: about 5,000 positions affected “in the coming years.” KLM expects around 1,000 fewer jobs to remain inside the airline itself. A firm timetable for the cuts is TBA.
Where the positions go: about 1,250 at KLM Catering Services (already reorganised, with gategroup taking over the work); about 800 in Ground Services as work moves to outside providers; about 2,000 moving to Air France-KLM, including 1,500 at the Cygnific customer contact centre; and about 1,000 through productivity measures inside KLM.
Ground handling: handling for European flights run by KLM Cityhopper, including at Schiphol, is to be outsourced. Start date TBA.
Fleet: Paddle Your Own Kanoo reports that more European flying will move to Embraer E195-E2 jets operated by KLM Cityhopper, that KLM is offloading its Boeing 737s and dropping an order for new Airbus A320s, and that it keeps its newly delivered A321neos. Numbers and dates TBA.
Targets: €1 billion a year in better financial performance from structural cost cuts and higher productivity (more than €750 million already delivered by earlier steps), a productivity gain of at least 8% by 2028, and “more moderate wage growth.”
Jobs: KLM says it expects to avoid compulsory redundancies, using natural attrition, voluntary arrangements and transfers. Reports say the airline also wants simpler employment conditions, which sets up talks with its unions. No union response was published in the sources.
Network: KLM says it wants to protect its 160 direct destinations from Schiphol, but further changes “could still become necessary.”

Group results: Q3 2026 (July–September)

Measure	Q3 2026	Change
Revenue	€9,916m	+7.6%
Adjusted operating profit	€1,346m	+€126m
Net income	€938m	+€170m
Passengers	29.7m	+1.8%
Load factor	88.4%	−0.4 pt

Air France-KLM now expects 2026 capacity to grow about 2% (it had said 2% to 3%). Short- and medium-haul capacity is still planned at about −1% and Transavia at about +8%. The group’s 2026 fuel bill estimate rose to USD 9.2 billion.

What it means for travelers

No immediate schedule change was announced. Expect the cost drive to keep capacity tight. The group ran an 88.4% load factor in Q3, so full flights on popular routes are not unusual.
Smaller aircraft on European routes mean fewer seats per departure. If more intra-Europe flying moves from 737s to E195-E2s, seats on those flights will be harder to find, so have a backup plan.
Short-haul is shrinking slightly (about −1%), Transavia is growing (about +8%). On some leisure routes, a Transavia flight may be the better option, depending on your pass agreements.
Watch the labour talks. KLM wants simpler terms and slower wage growth. No industrial action has been announced, but follow union news before winter peak trips.