KLM Eyes Air France Jets for JFK Route Amid 787 Shortage

KLM Considers Wet-Lease Option for JFK Route Amid Fleet Shortage

As global aviation continues to rebound from the turbulence of recent years, airlines are facing unique operational challenges. Among them is the issue of aircraft availability, a concern currently confronting KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. In an effort to maintain its transatlantic operations, KLM has received approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to potentially wet-lease aircraft from its SkyTeam partner, Air France, for service on the Amsterdam Schiphol–New York JFK route.

This temporary measure is being considered in response to a shortage in KLM’s widebody fleet, particularly due to the grounding of seven Boeing 787 aircraft. The permit issued by the DOT allows Air France aircraft to operate on behalf of KLM between July 1 and October 31, 2025. While the Dutch carrier has not confirmed whether it will exercise this option, the approval opens the door to a flexible solution during a critical travel season.

Wet-leasing, a common practice in the aviation industry, enables airlines to rent aircraft along with crew, maintenance, and insurance (ACMI). For KLM, this could be a strategic move to ensure continuity in its long-haul operations while minimizing disruptions to passengers and preserving market share on one of its key transatlantic routes.

Understanding Wet-Leasing and Its Strategic Role

What Is Wet-Leasing?

Wet-leasing involves an agreement where one airline (the lessor) provides an aircraft along with its crew, maintenance, and insurance to another airline (the lessee). This arrangement is typically used to cover short-term capacity needs, seasonal demand spikes, or unexpected fleet shortages. In KLM’s case, the wet-lease would allow it to continue offering scheduled service despite its grounded aircraft.

Air France, the potential lessor in this scenario, has a substantial widebody fleet that includes Airbus A330-200s, A350-900s, Boeing 777-200ERs, 777-300ERs, and B787-9s. This variety gives KLM multiple configuration and capacity options, depending on its operational requirements during the summer and early fall 2025 period.

Such arrangements are not uncommon within airline alliances like SkyTeam, where member carriers often collaborate to optimize fleet utilization and maintain service levels. The existing partnership between KLM and Air France, both part of the Air France-KLM Group, further facilitates this kind of operational flexibility.

“Wet-leasing is an efficient way to bridge temporary fleet gaps without compromising route continuity, especially on high-demand intercontinental sectors,” Aviation Analyst

Impact on KLM’s JFK Operations

The Amsterdam–New York JFK route is one of KLM’s most important transatlantic services, serving both business and leisure travelers. According to ch-aviation data, KLM operates 749 daily flights across 181 routes, with JFK being a critical long-haul destination. Any disruption on this route could have ripple effects on its network connectivity and customer satisfaction.

Currently, the ch-aviation schedules module indicates that KLM plans to operate the JFK route using its in-house fleet during the July–October window. However, this could change if the aircraft shortage persists longer than expected. The flexibility to deploy Air France aircraft provides a contingency plan that can be activated if needed.

Grounding of seven Boeing 787s has significantly impacted KLM’s widebody capacity. The airline’s widebody fleet includes 11 Boeing 787-10s, 13 Boeing 787-9s, 6 A330-200s, 5 A330-300s, 15 Boeing 777-200ERs, and 16 Boeing 777-300ERs. With a portion of this fleet grounded, KLM faces the risk of canceling long-haul flights, a move that could affect revenue and customer trust.

Operational and Customer Considerations

For passengers, wet-leased flights can sometimes result in different cabin configurations, service standards, or loyalty program benefits, depending on the operating carrier. While Air France and KLM share alliance membership and corporate ownership, there may still be subtle differences in onboard experience that frequent travelers notice.

Operationally, integrating wet-leased aircraft into a carrier’s schedule requires coordination across multiple departments, from crew planning and maintenance to customer service and IT systems. Ensuring that these flights are seamlessly booked and managed through KLM’s platforms is essential to avoid confusion and maintain brand consistency.

Nonetheless, the benefits of maintaining route continuity generally outweigh the drawbacks of temporary service adjustments. For KLM, the priority remains to uphold its schedule commitments and minimize disruptions during a peak travel period.

Wider Implications for the Aviation Industry

Fleet Shortages and Maintenance Delays

KLM’s current situation reflects a broader trend in the aviation industry, where fleet availability challenges have become more pronounced post-pandemic. Aircraft maintenance backlogs, supply chain disruptions, and delayed aircraft deliveries have forced many carriers to explore short-term leasing options to meet demand.

In this context, wet-leasing has emerged as a practical solution. It allows airlines to temporarily scale up capacity without the long-term financial commitments of purchasing or dry-leasing aircraft. This flexibility is particularly valuable as airlines navigate fluctuating demand and operational uncertainties.

The aviation industry is still recovering from the COVID-19 crisis, and while passenger demand is returning, the supply side, particularly in terms of aircraft readiness and crew availability, remains constrained. Airlines like KLM must adapt quickly to these evolving dynamics to stay competitive.

Alliance Collaboration and Strategic Benefits

The potential wet-lease between Air France and KLM also underscores the strategic value of airline alliances. Within the SkyTeam framework, member airlines can leverage shared resources, align schedules, and offer passengers a more integrated travel experience. This collaboration can be a vital asset during times of operational stress.

Beyond operational benefits, such arrangements can also strengthen group-level financial performance. By optimizing aircraft utilization across the Air France-KLM Group, both carriers can reduce idle time, improve asset efficiency, and better manage costs associated with fleet disruptions.

As airline groups continue to seek synergies, intra-group wet-leasing may become a more common practice, especially during seasonal peaks or unexpected fleet constraints. This model offers a glimpse into how future airline operations might evolve to become more adaptive and resilient.

Regulatory and Logistical Considerations

Securing regulatory approval for wet-leases is a critical step in the process. The DOT’s permit ensures that Air France aircraft can legally operate flights on behalf of KLM in the U.S. airspace. Similar approvals would be required from European authorities to complete the bilateral compliance framework.

Logistically, aligning operational standards between the two carriers is essential. This includes harmonizing safety protocols, crew training, and service delivery to ensure a consistent experience. Given their shared corporate structure, KLM and Air France are well-positioned to manage these complexities.

As aviation regulators continue to adapt to new models of airline cooperation, streamlined processes for such temporary arrangements could further facilitate operational agility in the industry.

Conclusion

KLM’s consideration of a wet-lease from Air France for its JFK route highlights the ongoing challenges and adaptive strategies in the global aviation sector. With a temporary shortage in widebody aircraft, the airline is exploring all viable options to maintain service continuity and uphold its operational commitments during a critical travel period.

Looking ahead, this case may serve as a model for how airline alliances can leverage internal resources to navigate disruptions. As the industry continues to evolve, flexibility and collaboration will likely remain key pillars of airline resilience and customer service excellence.

FAQ

What is a wet-lease in aviation?
A wet-lease is an arrangement where one airline provides an aircraft along with crew, maintenance, and insurance to another airline for a specified period.

Why is KLM considering a wet-lease for its JFK route?
KLM is facing a temporary shortage of widebody aircraft due to the grounding of seven Boeing 787s and is exploring a wet-lease from Air France to maintain service on the Amsterdam–New York route.

Will passengers notice a difference on wet-leased flights?
Possibly. While Air France and KLM are part of the same group, there may be differences in cabin configurations and service styles, although efforts are made to maintain consistency.

Sources: ch-aviation, DOT, KLM