KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will launch a third daily service between Cork and Amsterdam Schiphol from 26 October 2025, adding over 32,000 seats compared to last winter and strengthening Cork’s position as Ireland’s fastest-growing airport.

The expanded winter schedule, which excludes the quieter period from 4 January to 20 February 2026, responds to strong demand for connectivity through Amsterdam’s major hub airport. The Dutch capital serves as a gateway to KLM’s network of more than 160 destinations worldwide.

Having established operations at Cork Airport in 2020, KLM currently operates twice-daily flights to Amsterdam and recently upgraded to larger Embraer E2 aircraft on the route. The airline’s growth mirrors Cork Airport’s impressive performance, with passenger traffic up 14.5% year-to-date.

Jerome Salemi, General Manager of Air France-KLM (UK & Ireland), said:

“The increase to three daily KLM flights between Cork and Amsterdam highlights once again our commitment to the Munster Region and the South-West of Ireland. This complements our recent announcement of the year-round Air France services between Cork Airport and Paris Charles-de-Gaulle.”

The expansion benefits both outbound travellers seeking worldwide connections and inbound tourism. The Netherlands ranks as Ireland’s seventh-largest source market for visitors and ninth-largest source of overseas tourism revenue. Tourism Ireland research shows the South-West is the most popular region for Dutch tourists outside Dublin.

Tara Finn, Head of Aviation Business Development & Communications at Cork Airport, commented:

“Hubs are incredibly important for regional airports, providing essential long-haul connectivity. 32,330 more seats to Amsterdam will boost inbound tourism and provide more business and leisure connection options out of Cork. We are delighted with this expansion by KLM and look forward to further growth opportunities with the Air France-KLM group.”

Cork Airport, recently named “Best Regional Airport in Europe” by Airport Council International Europe in 2025, welcomed 3.1 million passengers in 2024 and forecasts 10% growth again this year. The airport has launched a €200 million capital development programme to support growth beyond 5 million passengers annually.

The additional KLM service strengthens Cork’s European connectivity alongside the airline group’s recently announced year-round Air France flights to Paris Charles-de-Gaulle, cementing the airport’s role as the international gateway for Ireland’s south.