VLM Airlines (Brussels, ex-Thomas Cook) news 2018

[Passenger]

Most startup airlines are far too optimistic when they open new routes. It seems they think that passengers are queuing up in lines of three when they open bookings, and it seems they think that passengers will amend their travel plans when they announce a new route. With today's sales system (immediate payment and no refund for cancellations) it's impossible for passengers to cancel the booking they have somewhere else (except for Y full fare or C-class).

The sooner an airline starts a new route, the lower their load factor will be. They should do what established airlines like Ryanair and Brussels Airlines do when they announce a new route: "bookings as from today, and first flight will operate in three or six months".

Maybe it's pressure from their Finance Department to start flying as soon as technically possible?

Off topic here: I see the same problem coming for Air Belgium, with their announcement "first flight as from end of March").

[CTBke]

Off topic here: I see the same problem coming for Air Belgium, with their announcement "first flight as from end of March").

and booking as of end of February which is now more or less

[Shengenzone]

Furthermore, VLM in the beginning was feeding KLM flights on ANR-AMS, when KLM stopped flying to ANR

1)Are you sure about that? If I 'am not mistaken it was DAT (with FVG) which did the flights to AMS.
I can not remember VLM going to AMS from ANR for KLM.

2)Will VLM Brussels not have to look for another name anyway? As it will be a different legal entity than the 'real' VLM in Antwerp/maribor.

1) VLM did operate the route instead of KLM, not DAT. You can find an article about it here(dutch):
http://www.standaard.be/cnt/nbra28022002_036

[jan_olieslagers]

That article only mentions an intention, not any factual operation. Like others, I have clear memories of DAT operating ANR-AMS - their Beech Queen Airs were acquired specifically for this operation. I have no memory of VLM effectively operating the route. DAT last operated the route with their EMB-120's, as mentioned, after that there were CityHopper planes on the route (ATR42 if my memory still serves) until KLM stopped the service altogether.

[Passenger]

Of course KLM flew Antwerp-Amsterdam (flights operated by KLM Exel on weekdays only).

[jan_olieslagers]

Ah, KLM Exel not City Hopper, yes, probably, thanks. But never VLM, still?

[sn26567]

VLM Airlines (Slovenia) is interested in establishing flights from Maribor to Zurich and Belgrade, as well as summer charter flights to the Croatian coast.

[CTBke]

VLM Airlines (Slovenia) is interested in establishing flights from Maribor to Zurich and Belgrade, as well as summer charter flights to the Croatian coast.

They already had the Croatian flights last year (Split for sure )

[Haplek]

VLM Airlines (Slovenia) is interested in establishing flights from Maribor to Zurich and Belgrade, as well as summer charter flights to the Croatian coast.

They already had the Croatian flights last year (Split for sure )

Yes, there was Split (SPU) and Dubrovnik (DBV) served.

[lumumba]

Why still no news about the new owner for the Brussels part is there a reason.....?

[Haplek]

http://www.caa.si/fileadmin/user_upload ... m_2018.pdf

There is now updated Slovenian VLM Airlines AOC available under a link above. There is a change on a CEO place. As it says, the new CEO of VLM Airlines is Branko Lučovnik, former CEO of ADRIA Airways. He was CEO of ADRIA in times when ADRIA was still owned by the government of Slovenia.

[CTBke]

Why still no news about the new owner for the Brussels part is there a reason.....?

Maybe they want to keep mysterious

[luchtzak]

Strange my post wasn't published.

One could read more in lalibre.be, the 2 A320's will go back to Condor and VLM Brussels is now looking for alternatives...

I don't understand why I have missed this post Been busy I guess

Meanwhile routesonline.com mentioned that VLM Airlines will go double weekdays between Antwerp and Munich.

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/vlm-a ... -aircraft/

[Shengenzone]

Strange my post wasn't published.

One could read more in lalibre.be, the 2 A320's will go back to Condor and VLM Brussels is now looking for alternatives...

I don't understand why I have missed this post Been busy I guess

Meanwhile routesonline.com mentioned that VLM Airlines will go double weekdays between Antwerp and Munich.

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/vlm-a ... -aircraft/

I already posted that Munich would become double daily on the 10th of february in this forumpost (page 5) Seems you are indeed busy lol

[Shengenzone]

VO101 returning to Antwerp because of London city airport closure.

[Haplek]

There are two daily flights from Monday to Friday between Maribor (MBX) and Munich (MUC) starting from 26. March. I believe this is at the start of summer time table, is it not? The schedule looks totally illogical. The flights departing within 5 or 15 minutes...

[koninckske]

There are two daily flights from Monday to Friday between Maribor (MBX) and Munich (MUC) starting from 26. March. I believe this is at the start of summer time table, is it not? The schedule looks totally illogical. The flights departing within 5 or 15 minutes...

SInce yesterday they have been updating the schedule. They might have received some other/better slots... don't expect them to fly an empty F50 twice a day.

[CTBke]

There are two daily flights from Monday to Friday between Maribor (MBX) and Munich (MUC) starting from 26. March. I believe this is at the start of summer time table, is it not? The schedule looks totally illogical. The flights departing within 5 or 15 minutes...

as you can see it's 2 times the same flightnumber VO131 and VG131, probably a bug in the system as flights will be VG as from end of March (at least that's what I saw the other day... they're just updating their booking system)

[Boeing767copilot]

Summer timetable 2018 is loaded and available to book. All VLM flights from Antwerp to London City, Munich, Zürich, Birmingham and Maribor were loaded today for bookings until June 2018. July to October 2018 will follow in the coming days.
They are also moving away from Hahn Air and VLM will be in the GDS directly very soon. The YQ of €27 will then no longer be charged.

[koninckske]

Summer timetable 2018 is loaded and available to book. All VLM flights from Antwerp to London City, Munich, Zürich, Birmingham and Maribor were loaded today for bookings until June 2018. July to October 2018 will follow in the coming days.
They are also moving away from Hahn Air and VLM will be in the GDS directly very soon. The YQ of €27 will then no longer be charged.

I hope it is not finished yet... or they need to fire someone!
VO141 ANR to ZRH not available to book during April, VO142 is available.... this makes no sense
VO134 and VG134 both bookable or the VLM website
I can understand they are changing things, but it has been like this for several days now...
I do believe in VLM, but sometimes what they do is so unprofessional.