VLM Airlines
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| Founded | 1992 | ||||||
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| Hubs | |||||||
| Frequent-flyer program | Pro Pass | ||||||
| Fleet size | 11 | ||||||
| Destinations | 9 | ||||||
| Headquarters | Deurne, Antwerp, Belgium | ||||||
| Key people | |||||||
| Website | flyvlm.com | ||||||
VLM Airlines is a Belgian airline offering scheduled, charter and ACMI services. It is headquartered at Antwerp International Airport in Deurne.[2]
History
Early years
VLM Airlines started operations in May 1993 with a scheduled service between Antwerp International Airport and London City Airport. "VLM" is an abbreviation of Vlaamse Luchttransport Maatschappij, "Flemish Air Transport Company". Its original hub was Antwerp, then this was changed to London-City, and since its independency through mamagement-buy-out end 2014, this is again Antwerp Airport.
On 24 December 2007, Air France-KLM announced that they had signed an agreement for a full takeover of the company from Panta Holdings.[3] In 2008 the airline reported its tenth consecutive year of profits; for the year ending 31 December 2007 it had a net profit of 3.6m euros. Turnover grew to 112m euros and passenger numbers rose 9% to 745,781 during 2007.[4] The airline now employs over 400 people, and carried 745,781 passengers in 2007.
Air France-KLM announced on 28 May 2009 that VLM Airlines would gradually start to operate under the brand name CityJet. The name CityJet was already in use by the Irish regional partner of Air France-KLM. In 2010 the name VLM Airlines had been replaced altogether by CityJet. This merger was never completed. On 16 February 2010 CityJet launched a new seating configuration on their aircraft, including the Fokker 50s added during the merger. They are now fitted with CityPlus, a 4-abreast premium economy class along with CityValue, the standard economy.[5]
VLM used to promote itself as Europe's leading "Business Airline" and tried to reflect this in its pursuit of superior service. Passengers were served fresh meals on board, and were able to request a vegetarian or kosher meal at the time of reservation. Meals were presented on a half-tray, and all passengers were served drinks in real glasses with tea and coffee served in china cups. Such features are not commonly found on short-haul airlines. After the CityJet/Air France takeover, this product was downgraded to reflect the Air France-KLM product on short-haul flights. There is now a simple service of sandwiches and drinks, with glassware and china cups replaced by plastic. However, since the takeover the airline continues to distribute boiled sweets to its passengers before take-off, and Belgian chocolates mid-flight.
Development since the 2010s
In early 2014, following the sale of CityJet by Air France to German investor Intro Aviation, the latter decided to "demerge" Cityjet and VLM. VLM would from then on provide aircraft and crews on ACMI basis.
In October 2014, however, the management of VLM Airlines undertook a Management buyout and VLM became independent from CityJet and Intro Aviation. The CEO, Arthur White, became the majority shareholder. The company will continue providing services to Cityjet and offer charter services while reintroducing scheduled flights from Antwerp Airport to Geneva and other destinations in the near future.[6] In the same month the airline signed a contract to lease two Sukhoi Superjet 100s, with options for 12 more, as a possible replacement for the Fokker 50s, to be delivered from April 2015.[7] This date was later revised to 2016 due to certification delays,[7] however the order was completely cancelled.[8]
In March 2015, it was announced that VLM would take over two routes from Waterford Airport, Ireland to the UK which were previously served by Stobart Air and Flybe. The routes to London Luton and Birmingham started late April 2015 and continues throughout 2016.
In June 2015, VLM announced it would shut down all operations to and from their new base at Liège Airport (to Avignon, Nice and Venice) after only six weeks of service, due to low demand.[9]
In December 2015, VLM Airlines announced to base three aircraft at Friedrichshafen Airport in Germany by February 2016 to take over the domestic routes to Berlin, Düsseldorf and Hamburg previously provided by bankrupt regional carrier InterSky.[10]
Destinations
VLM Airlines offers scheduled routes as well as charters under their own brand. It also operates on ACMI-basis on behalf of other airlines, including Air France and Flybe.
| Operated as VLM | ||
|---|---|---|
| Base | Destination | Notes |
| Antwerp Airport | Hamburg Airport | |
| Southampton Airport | ||
| Friedrichshafen Airport | Berlin Tegel Airport | |
| Düsseldorf Airport | ||
| Hamburg Airport | ||
| Waterford Airport | London Luton Airport | |
| Operated on behalf of CityJet | ||
| Antwerp Airport | London City Airport | |
| Operated for Flybe through wet lease | ||
| Manchester Airport | Aberdeen Airport | All end 31st August 2016 Extra capacity for summer |
| Amsterdam Airport | ||
| Belfast City Airport | ||
| Dusseldorf Airport | ||
| Exeter Airport | ||
| Isle of Man Airport | ||
| Jersey Airport | ||
| Ireland West Airport Knock | ||
| Nantes Airport | ||
| Newquay Airport | ||
| Rotterdam Airport | ||
| Southampton Airport | ||
| Cardiff Airport | London City Airport | 12 Sep - 21 Oct 2016 |
| Operated on behalf of Vizion air | ||
| Antwerp Airport | Air charters only | Used as needed |
Fleet
The VLM Airlines fleet included the following aircraft as of March 2016:[11]
| Aircraft | Total | Orders | Passengers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fokker 50 | 11 | – | 50 | 10 in use, 1 stored. |
| Total | 11 | – |
References
- ↑ "IATA - Airline and Airport Code Search". iata.org. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- ↑ "Your VLM contacts." VLM Airlines. 1 August 2003. Retrieved on 6 July 2010. "Headquarters VLM Airlines Belgium NV Luchthavengebouw B50 B 2100 Deurne Antwerpen." "Antwerp office VLM Airlines Belgium NV Luchthavengebouw B50 B 2100 Antwerp Belgium Company registration number 0446.670.251."
- ↑ Message on the VLM website announcing the takeover access date 24 December 2007
- ↑ Annual financial summary 2007-08
- ↑ CityJet. "CityJet - CityPlus". Retrieved 7 June 2015.
- ↑ "Lara News Show". Retrieved 7 June 2015.
- 1 2 flightglobal.com. "Certification issues delay Superjet introduction at VLM". Retrieved 7 June 2015.
- ↑ http://atwonline.com/airframes/vlm-airlines-scraps-superjet-order. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ "aero.de - Luftfahrt-Nachrichten und -Community". aero.de. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
- ↑ austrianaviation.net - FDH: VLM tritt InterSky-Erbe an 18 December 2015
- ↑ "Belgian Aircraft Register". Belgian Government - Official information and services. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
External links
Media related to VLM Airlines at Wikimedia Commons
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