Owner of one of the largest fleets of Embraer’s E195-E2 jets, KLM Cityhopper, the regional arm of the Dutch carrier, is close to putting all of its 16 aircraft into service.
According to Planespotters, only one of the aircraft, registered PH-NXM (the 1,700th Embraer jet delivered), is still out of service, but KLM has stated that it will fly again “soon”.
“KLM Cityhopper has recently grounded several E2s due to teething problems with the new engines. We’ve been hard at work on solutions with Pratt & Whitney and Embraer over the last few months. This allows us to use the E2s again,” an airline spokesman told Luchtvaart Nieuws.
KLM had confirmed to Air Data News in January that it was forced to restrict flights due to difficulties in correcting flaws found by Pratt & Whitney in the GTF engines that power Embraer’s new E2 jet family.
Although they pose no risk, the engines need to undergo equipment and software updates to regain flight conditions.
The problem is that the US engine manufacturer was not prepared to perform as many services as the failure also affects the Airbus A220 jets and the A320neo family.
The E2 is known for its low operating cost, good passenger capacity and superior range to the E1, also operated by KLM Cityhopper.
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The airline closed a leasing agreement that provides for the delivery of 25 aircraft in all. KLM Cityhopper E195-E2s are configured with 132 seats.
