First Airbus A320 for VLM Airlines emerges from the hangar

The first of two Airbus A320 aircraft for VLM Airlines has made its first public appearance on Friday 10 November 2017 as it was towed outside the Sabena Aerospace maintenance hangar at Brussels Airport.

The depicted Airbus A320 (OO-TCX) is one of two ex-Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium aircraft that will go to VLM Airlines, as reported earlier by Aviation24.be (see ‘VLM plans to resume operations‘).

At this moment the aircraft still wears a hybrid Thomas Cook / VLM Airlines livery.

Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium was founded in 2002 and ceased operations at the end of October 2017 with a last flight from Tenerife to Brussels. For fifteen years, the Belgian airline had taken most customers of Thomas Cook, Neckermann and Pegase on holiday. Now it is Brussels Airlines who flies these customers to their holiday destinations.

Two Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium A320s as well as the ground staff of the Belgian airline were transferred to SHS Aviation. Two other A320s were transferred to Brussels Airlines. A fifth aircraft was transferred to the Thomas Cook Group in the UK.

At moment of writing, it is unclear which destinations will be served with the two VLM Airlines Airbus A320s.

10 November 2017

Photos: © Mario Debontridder (Brussels Airport Fanpage), Kevin Golaerts