VLM Airlines

Infobox Airline
airline=VLM Airlines
logo=VLM Airlines logo.pnglogo_size=150
IATA=VG
ICAO=VLM
callsign=RUBENS
parent=Air France-KLM
founded=1992
headquarters=Antwerp, Belgium
key_people=Johan Vanneste (Managing Director), Jaap Rosen Jacobson (Chairman)
hubs=London City Airport
focus_cities=
frequent_flyer=VLM Encore
lounge=
alliance=
fleet_size=19
destinations=12
website= http://www.flyvlm.com/

VLM Airlines (short for Vlaamse Luchttransportmaatschappij - Flemish Air Transport Company) is a Belgian business airline.

History

VLM Airlines started operations in May 1993 with a scheduled service between Antwerp and London City Airport. The airline employs over 400 people, and carried 745,781 passengers in 2007. Its original hub was Antwerp, but the airline now has its hub at London City Airport [ [http://www.flyvlm.com/emc.asp?pageId=1245 VLM website map of destinations showing London City as the hub] ] .

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 Euro. Turnover grew to 112m Euro and passenger numbers rose 9% to 745,781 during 2007 [ [http://www.flyvlm.com/emc.asp?pageId=1197 Annual financial summary 2007-08] ] .

On 24 December 2007 Air France-KLM announced that they had signed an agreement for a full takeover of the company [ [http://www.flyvlm.com/emc.asp?pageId=1184 Message on the VLM website announcing the takeover - access date 24 Dec 2007] ] .

Destinations

*Belgium
**Antwerp (Antwerp International Airport)
**Brussels (Brussels Airport)
*Germany
**Hamburg (Hamburg Airport)
*Luxembourg
**Luxembourg City (Luxembourg-Findel International Airport)
*Netherlands
**Amsterdam (Amsterdam Schiphol Airport)
**Rotterdam (Rotterdam Airport)
*United Kingdom
**England
***London (London City Airport) Hub
***Manchester (Manchester Airport)
**Crown dependencies
***Isle of Man (Isle of Man Airport)
***Jersey (Jersey Airport)
***Guernsey (Guernsey Airport) - Summer

VLM Airlines also has charters to a number of destinations within Europe including a Saturday service to Jersey from Rotterdam, Bournemouth, London Luton, Dundee & Kent International. Furthermore VLM Airlines flies regular charters to Bergen, Norway for Cruiseliners out of Manchester, Exeter and other cities. Expansion of its network has meant that by late 2007 VLM Airlines operates approx 100 flights each weekday from London City Airport.VLM Airlines has 1 Fokker 50 on standby for ad hoc-charter flights, available for flights across Europe & Northern Africa. The Airline also flies on ACMI-basis for other Airline including Air France, Flybe & Aer Arann when extra capacity is needed.

Destinations no longer flown to include Groningen and Liverpool.

Fleet

Current

The VLM Airlines fleet includes the following aircraft (as of 3 October 2008) [ [http://www.flyvlm.com/emc.asp?pageId=993 VLM Fleet] ] :

As of 10 July 2008, the average age of the VLM Airlines fleet is 18.7 years ( [http://www.airfleets.net/ageflotte/VLM.htm] ).

Retired fleet

In the year 2007 VLM used a BAe 146-300 wet leased from Flightline.

Service

VLM promotes itself as Europe’s premiere “Business Airline” and reflects this in its pursuit of superior service. Onboard, passengers are served substantial and fresh meals, and passengers can request a vegetarian or kosher meal at the time of reservation. Meals are presented on a half-tray, and all passengers are served drinks in real glasses with tea and coffee served in china cups. Such features are not commonly found on short haul airlines.

The airline also has a frequent flyer programme called VLM Encore, where passengers can earn points every time they fly VLM. Points can be redeemed for travel on VLM airlines.

External links

* [http://www.flyvlm.com/ VLM Airlines]
* [http://www.vlmmagazine.com/ Velocity inflight magazine]

References