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| VLM Airlines | ||
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| IATA VG |
ICAO VLM |
Callsign RUBENS |
| Founded | 1992 | |
| Hubs | London City Airport | |
| Frequent flyer program | VLM Encore | |
| Fleet size | 19 | |
| Destinations | 12 | |
| Parent company | Air France-KLM | |
| Headquarters | Antwerp, Belgium | |
| Key people | Johan Vanneste (Managing Director), Jaap Rosen Jacobson (Chairman) | |
| Website: http://www.flyvlm.com/ | ||
VLM Airlines (short for Vlaamse Luchttransportmaatschappij - Flemish Air Transport Company) is a Belgian business airline.
Contents |
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 Airport1.
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 20072.
On 24 December 2007 Air France-KLM announced that they had signed an agreement for a full takeover of the company3.
Destinations
- Belgium
- Germany
- Luxembourg
- Netherlands
- Amsterdam (Amsterdam Schiphol Airport)
- Eindhoven (Eindhoven Airport) [begins 12 January]
- Rotterdam (Rotterdam Airport)
- United Kingdom
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.
VLM no longer fly to Groningen or Liverpool.
Fleet
Current
The VLM Airlines fleet includes the following aircraft (as of 3 October 2008) 4:
| Type | Number | Seats | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fokker 50 |
19
|
50
|
As of 10 July 2008, the average age of the VLM Airlines fleet is 18.7 years ([1]).
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
References
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