VLM Airlines

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VLM Airlines
IATA
VG		 ICAO
VLM		 Callsign
RUBENS
Founded 1992
Hubs London City Airport
Frequent flyer program VLM Encore
Fleet size 20
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

[edit] History

VLM Airlines started operations in May 1993 with a scheduled service between Antwerp and London City Airport. In 2005 VLM Airlines reported its eighth consecutive year of profit. The airline employs 375 people, and carried 604,500 passengers in 2005. Originally hubbed in Antwerp, the airline now has its hub at London City Airport.[citation needed]

In 2007 the airline reported its ninth consecutive year of profits For the year ending 31 December 2006, it had a net profit of 3.2m Euro, an increase of 143% over the previous year. Turnover grew by 12.5% to 99.6m Euro and passenger numbers rose 9% to 681,751 for the year.[1]

On the 24th of December 2007 Air France-KLM has announced that they had signed an agreement for a full takeover of the company[2].

[edit] Destinations

VLM Fokker F50 Old Livery
VLM Fokker F50 Old Livery

VLM Airlines also has charters to a number of destinations within Europe including a Saturday service to Jersey from Kent International Airport. Expansion of its network has meant that by late 2006 VLM Airlines operates 104 flights each weekday from London City Airport[3].

[edit] Fleet

[edit] Current

As of March 2008, the average age of the VLM Airlines fleet is 18.4 years ([1]). The VLM Airlines fleet includes the following aircraft (at March 2008):

Type Number Seats Notes
Fokker 50
19
50
 three aircraft are operated by Denim Air
Dornier 328
1
92
 Leased from Scot Airways, based at Rotterdam Airport. Flies from Rotterdam to Hamburg, Manchester and London City.

[edit] Retired fleet

In the year 2007 VLM used a Bae 146-300 damp leased from Flightline.

[edit] 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.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Profits again for VLM Airlines", Airliner World, June 2007, p. 5. 
  2. ^ Message on the VLM website announcing the takeover - access date 24 Dec 2007
  3. ^ Airliner World January 2007
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