VLM Airlines

[ethanegcc]

Credit to User from PPRuNe for breaking the news to the aviation community. From Antwerp, local media has reported the following (translated):

'ANTWERP - Besides quite ambitious plans to harness a global network from scratch from Slovenia forget reborn VLM Airlines also home to Antwerp out its expansion plans.
Last week, VLM Airlines is known that, when a new permit to fly is issued, a wide range should go to scheduled flights operated from Maribor in Slovenia to numerous destinations in Europe and China. Before the fleet is to be expanded with Airbus A320s and A330s.
Critics put loudly questioned the feasibility of this by millions of Chinese-sponsored plan but VLM Airlines announces to continue flying from Antwerp Airport, as before.
According to news agency Belga allow connections from Antwerp including Manchester and Rotterdam in the program, in addition to seven other destinations. The routes should be flown in Belgium registered Fokker 50s. The Airbus fleet will be covered by a Slovenian permit to fly.' (my emphasis)

So, in conclusion, VLM are going to add Antwerp to Manchester with Fokker 50s.

Thanks to our friend from PPRuNe (LAX_LHR/User001) also we know that there are rumours of a new Maribor (Slovenia) to Manchester service with their A320 aircraft, once they arrive.

Adria ran a thrice weekly Maribor-London Southend service in the summer of 2015 so it possibly could be a success. As for Antwerp, can it actually work or has it been attempted too many times?

 

[David_itl]

Although this is predominantly a business route, it may sound daft but I think it's better for them to operate 5 or 6 weekly only and slap bang in the middle of the day so they don't pay premium landing/parking charges. Other times it's been in the peak periods so low loads coupled with high charges meant inadequate profits.

 

[jfy1999]

Time to resurrect this thread!

VLM to launch new routes from Manchester to Antwerp and Ostend/Bruges on 1st October 2018

Manchester to Antwerp: Two daily flights on weekdays and one daily flight during weekends

Daily flights between Manchester and Ostend-Bruges

 

[EGCC_MAN]

VLM flights are already open for bookings. Introductory offers available until 30 April for travel between 01-27 October initially. I've paid £78 return for a weekend (Fri-Sun) return trip to Antwerp. Oostende / Brugge is a brilliant destination too, but that will have to wait until Spring for me. I'm not doing both back-to-back!

 

[Scottie Dog]

According to our old friend on 'dried fruit' VLM are once again rehashing their entire UK programme and have cancelled all flights with the exception of those to.from LCY.

No surprise there then!

 

[Silvercity]

According to our old friend on 'dried fruit' VLM are once again rehashing their entire UK programme and have cancelled all flights with the exception of those to.from LCY.

No surprise there then!

I don't think I'd trust making a booking on them.

 

[David_itl]

Link in Flemish but it starts like this in English:


"SHS Aviation, the parent company of VLM Airlines, will in the future only offer scheduled flights to London and Zurich from Antwerp. The company reports this in a press release today. "We want to put more effort into the market of charter flights," says spokesman Yves Panneels.


The VLM connections from Antwerp to Aberdeen, Birmingham, Cologne-Bonn, Maribor, Munich and Rostock will be stopped in the coming weeks. The previously announced new connection to Manchester is postponed. "It's mainly about business flights and the number of bookings in September and beyond was very limited," says Panneels.""


https://www.hln.be/reizen/vlm-snoei...twee-na-alle-bestemmingen-geschrapt~a45050a3/

 

[Philbky]

Vloundering in Vlanders - again?