VLM (SHS Antwerp Aviation) news 2018 - 2019

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saratoga
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Re: VLM (SHS Antwerp Aviation) news 2018

Post by saratoga »

I think you are fully correct A318. The VLM times are over. Just thriving on 1 route (LCY) with aircraft that are not of these times anymore is simply not enough and even unrealistic. They had their shot, did probably their best, but it did not work out. Would be foolish now to go for a go- around based on that old pattern. It would mean suicide. It is simply “Over and Out”. Time to look for a fresh air at EBAW.

ironspan
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Re: VLM (SHS Antwerp Aviation) news 2018

Post by ironspan »

VLM times are over, maybe yes (even if somebody takes some of the activities, they need to change the brand name, which is now completely destroyed). But I still highly believe in the potential of the routes to LCY, ZRH, and ABZ. The load factors on the latter two were quite satisfactory the last few weeks.
As I mentioned before on this platform, the failing of VLM has nothing to do with the potential of the Antwerp airport/region, but about with the mismanagement of the company. And this is confirmed by many aviation specialists in interviews:
- willing to grow too fast
- destinations chosen wrongly (Maribor? Rostock?)
- hardly any advertising
- 3 CEOs in 6 months
- older propeller planes
Antwerp Airport is much more than VLM, let’s not mix up. Flybe will start flying daily, and Marcel Buelens is talking to some airlines to take over the LCY-route. When Sabena went bankrupt, we thought Brussels Airport was finished (although nobody suggested to close it then😉), look at their performance today...

Passenger
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Re: VLM (SHS Antwerp Aviation) news 2018

Post by Passenger »

We won't have a doorstart / go-around of "VLM Airlines" because the reservation system is owned by SHS Aviation BV (Netherlands), because there is already a VLM airline in Brussels (the former Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium) and because Harm Prins is involved too much.

This means that a name change is necessary (to avoid confusion - and soon a fallout - from VLM Airlines Brussels). And that apart from negociations with Monard Law (the bona fide liquidator), one also has to negociate with Harm Prins. Given his strangehold (wurggreep) on VLM, not a nice forecast.

Apart from that, the aircraft are old indeed but not written off. Actually, they're in good shape and they are good for what they have to do: a 45 minutes flight at max FL170 between two airports with rather short runways.

And regarding payment for fortcoming bookings, the new operator needs to copy/paste the new Flex system from NS, the Dutch Railways: first you fly, then you pay. Nobody wants to pay in advance anymore on ANR-LCY.

AAI
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Re: VLM (SHS Antwerp Aviation) news 2018

Post by AAI »

i hope Flybe will take over the morning and evening flights to LCY
and retain the SEN afternoon flights on a daily basis for their low cost offer

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A318
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Re: VLM (SHS Antwerp Aviation) news 2018

Post by A318 »

ironspan wrote: 03 Sep 2018, 15:25 But I still highly believe in the potential of the routes to LCY, ZRH, and ABZ. The load factors on the latter two were quite satisfactory the last few weeks.
LCY yes, this route has be proven to be attractive and profitable.

ZRH, no there was never a profit on this route not in the old days as in the new days.

ABZ, no not from ANR.
ABZ could have been interesting from RTM seen the need for platform employees who are flown out from ABZ by helicopter to the platforms on the north sea.
However this route is for years flown by KLM from AMS so heavy competition on this route could be expected. Since Shell plants around RTM are interested in shorter travels they could have start this competition but only with a huge positive financial balance on their bank account. We all know this wasn't the case so not an option.
A Whole Different Animal

Passenger
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Re: VLM (SHS Antwerp Aviation) news 2018

Post by Passenger »

Harm Prins proofs that he's the unreliable factor in this saga:
https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2018/09/03 ... antwerp-a/
(translation of his nonsense will follow)

DAT2527
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Re: VLM (SHS Antwerp Aviation) news 2018

Post by DAT2527 »

Passenger wrote: 03 Sep 2018, 21:23 Harm Prins proofs that he's the unreliable factor
Euh, why?
Because he set things strait?

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sn26567
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Re: VLM (SHS Antwerp Aviation) news 2018

Post by sn26567 »

Passenger wrote: 03 Sep 2018, 21:23 https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2018/09/03 ... antwerp-a/
(translation of his nonsense will follow)
No need to follow: it's here already since a couple of hours:

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/vlm- ... quidation/
André
ex Sabena #26567

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A318
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Re: VLM (SHS Antwerp Aviation) news 2018

Post by A318 »

DAT2527 wrote: 03 Sep 2018, 21:27
Passenger wrote: 03 Sep 2018, 21:23 Harm Prins proofs that he's the unreliable factor
Euh, why?
Because he set things strait?
Yeah don't see that picture either, he is just making clear VLM Airlines Brussels is operating as usual and that their investers currently are not interested in the ANR part. To be honest I don't think it should be wise anyway because what should he do with 3 F50's? The A320's are flying charters and that is giving more guaranteed income then buying 3 F50's for an ANR operation.
A Whole Different Animal

Passenger
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Re: VLM (SHS Antwerp Aviation) news 2018

Post by Passenger »

https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2018/09/03 ... antwerp-a/
...
"SHS Antwerp Aviation voert sinds vorige maandag geen enkele vlucht meer uit. De maatschappij laat weten dat passagiers die geen annuleringsverzekering afsloten voor hun vlucht en ook niet via een reisbureau boekten, aangifte van schuldvordering kunnen doen. Een aanvraagformulier is te vinden op de website van de maatschappij. Wie een annuleringsverzekering heeft, kan bij de verzekeraar een claim indienen. En passagiers die via een reisbureau een vlucht geboekt hebben die onderdeel is van een reispakket, kunnen in België een tussenkomst aanvragen van Garantiefonds Reizen..."

Translated via Google Translate:
...
"SHS Antwerp Aviation has not performed any flights since last Monday. The company informs that passengers who did not take out cancellation insurance for their flight and also not through a travel agency can file a form for a claim. An application form can be found on the website of the company. Those who have cancellation insurance can file a claim with the insurer. And passengers who have booked a flight through a travel agency that is part of a travel package can apply for an intervention in Belgium from Garantiefonds Reizen / Fonds de Garantie de Voyages..."
Factual errors/lies:

A cancellation insurance does not cover the loss when an airline fails.

With the failure of an airline, passengers who have booked a ticket only (direct or via a travel agent) loose their money.

When passengers have booked a package travel including a ticket, it's the responsability of the touroperator to find an alternative ticket at the touroperators' expenses. An insurer does not cover these extra costs.

A guarantee fund (and there are three insurers in Belgium) doesn't step in when an airline fails.

What is not mentionned in the above article: passengers who have paid their ticket via a credit card, should contact their credit card company immediately and file a chargeback request. Principle: when passengers can proof that the service has not been delivered, the credit card company will refund them. No matter if they have booked direct or via a travel agent.

And the biggest lie: "...passengers can fill in a form for a claim...". Seriously? Passengers are the last one in the queue. First comes mr taxman, then the banks and probably mr Harm Prins, then the employees, and then all the others (fuel suppliers, ground handler, airport, publicity company, ICT providers, clients, ...).

ironspan
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Re: VLM (SHS Antwerp Aviation) news 2018

Post by ironspan »

To A318:
Maybe you are not following closely the flights at ANR, I do. And I have personally seen that the load factors on ZRH and ABZ were quite good lately, sometimes even better than LCY (which has been generally the best business destination). More people started to know both services and booked, since they did not want to pay the very high fares of Swiss or KLM. For sure ABZ would have become successful, since, as you said, there is only 1 competitor = KLM from AMS. Passengers told us that they loved to finally have an alternative, even without a loyalty program. VLM could have raised the fares to ABZ, it would still have worked. Unfortunately, they lost too much money on the other destinations (Maribor, Munich, Rostock, Birmingham, Cologne), and as some of you said, they started flying a new route immediately after announcing it, no wonder they flew empty...

Passenger
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Re: VLM (SHS Antwerp Aviation) news 2018

Post by Passenger »

Here is the claim form:
http://flyvlm.com/upload/Microsoft%20Wo ... m.docx.pdf
(my remark: your chances to win the Euromillions jackpot are higher then your chances that VLM's liquidators will refund you for more then 10%)

VLM calls it "Belangrik informatie over het liquidation van VLM Airlines".

Passenger
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Re: VLM (SHS Antwerp Aviation) news 2018

Post by Passenger »

The nonsense and madness that VLM / SHS Aviation has sent out on Monday, has now been adjusted by Belga (press service) and VRT (Flemish tv):

https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2018/09/04 ... viation-b/

In brief: everything that VLM / SHS Aviation told in its press release from Monday = how stranded passengers could get their money back, was a lie. There are no insurances, no bonds, no guarantuee funds that cover the failure of an airline. VLM only gave passengers fals hope: most of them have lost their money. The only passengers without losses/costs, are those who have booked an all-in travel package with a touroperator. Not because an insurer steps in, but because of travel legislation: these passengers will get alternative transport, paid by the touroperator.

But then, what's the loss of a ticket, compared to the loss of a job? I can only hope for the staff that the two liquidators from Monard Law will not use the full six months that legislation gives them to file a first report about the financial status of the airline.

FLYAIR10
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Re: VLM (SHS Antwerp Aviation) news 2018

Post by FLYAIR10 »

by Passenger » 05 Sep 2018, 10:00
But then, what's the loss of a ticket, compared to the loss of a job? I can only hope for the staff that the two liquidators from Monard Law will not use the full six months that legislation gives them to file a first report about the financial status of the airline.
I'm wondering whether the following makes sense:
If there is indeed "a handful of parties" who are interested to take over VLM, and who were presumably well aware of the poor financial situation before officially showing interest, then let's hope there is at least one to take over the whole operation as it was intended to be after mid september(i.e. after the reduction of destinations, but keeping ANR-LCY and ZRH)
Subject to sufficient and timely financial input from that party and agreement with lawyers and SHS ,BVL,etc.., it could go fast to resume operations ,no? matter of weeks?
Question is , is there such a 'take-it-all' party amongst the 'handful'? How many of the staff would they rehire? and would they continue with the Fokkers for the time being? or bring in other planes?

convair
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Re: VLM (SHS Antwerp Aviation) news 2018

Post by convair »

FLYAIR10 wrote: 05 Sep 2018, 11:53
by Passenger » 05 Sep 2018, 10:00
But then, what's the loss of a ticket, compared to the loss of a job? I can only hope for the staff that the two liquidators from Monard Law will not use the full six months that legislation gives them to file a first report about the financial status of the airline.
I'm wondering whether the following makes sense:
If there is indeed "a handful of parties" who are interested to take over VLM, and who were presumably well aware of the poor financial situation before officially showing interest, then let's hope there is at least one to take over the whole operation as it was intended to be after mid september(i.e. after the reduction of destinations, but keeping ANR-LCY and ZRH)
Subject to sufficient and timely financial input from that party and agreement with lawyers and SHS ,BVL,etc.., it could go fast to resume operations ,no? matter of weeks?
Question is , is there such a 'take-it-all' party amongst the 'handful'? How many of the staff would they rehire? and would they continue with the Fokkers for the time being? or bring in other planes?
No need to buy an almost bankrupt co, imho. Pending the final issue and with the liquidator's agreement, what would prevent anyone with an AOC to hire the slots, the planes and employ the crews and necessary staff (with short term contracts for the time being) and to operate the flights you mentioned without significant investment? The liquidator should be happy to receive some money whilst these assets are still worth something. If they wait till the end of the liquidation process, there might be others, like Flybe, already filling the gap, and the company will be worth zilch; at that point, only the sale of the planes could then bring some money.

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A318
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Re: VLM (SHS Antwerp Aviation) news 2018

Post by A318 »

ironspan wrote: 04 Sep 2018, 00:01 since they did not want to pay the very high fares of Swiss or KLM. VLM could have raised the fares to ABZ, it would still have worked.
Wrong, the maritime sector doesn't care at all about prices of tickets since all maritime crews travel on seamen tickets with highly flexible options. What the maritime sector wants is frequent schedules fitting their crew change schedules, these can be two weeks on/off, 4 weeks on/off or 6 weeks on/off. VLM would never have had the financial strength to offer this to huge companies like Shell, DEME, Jan de Nul etc etc.

The "strategic" plan to raise fares didn't work out for Waterford either so that would have been another "lessons learned".
A Whole Different Animal

ironspan
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Re: VLM (SHS Antwerp Aviation) news 2018

Post by ironspan »

To a318:
I do not have any intention to start a long argumentation on this forum. You may be right about special fares for seamen, it is not relevant (and not all pax were seamen...). Fact is that VLM stopped, that the load factor on ABZ was high (and far better than Munich, Maribor, Cologne, Birmingham or Rostock). The last couple of flights they had more +30 pax, without any special promotion or advertising. Also Aberdeen Airport regrets that they suspended service (and that would not be the case if they would fly empty). It is also not only a matter of fares, but also about convenience (the time you lose to go to Schiphol, check-in, security control, etc vs ANR...). Anyway, I do not expect this route to start up again, whoever takes over VLM. So matter closed.

Passenger
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Re: VLM (SHS Antwerp Aviation) news 2018

Post by Passenger »

The liquidator appointed by the board is no bankruptcy curator appointed by the trade court. The liquidator isn't allowed to sell parts. He first has to make an inventory of all assets and debts. Only when all creditors have been paid, including mr Harm Prins, the liquidator is allowed to sell what is left, with balance going to the shareholders.

In between, the liquidator is allowed to negociate a full take over the company, thus including all assets ànd all debts: aircraft, aircraft parts, airport slots, a suspended AOC, brand name, the computers & furniture, unpaid invoices, unpaid VAT and other unpaid taxman bills, all staff related costs.

With the information that has been published so far, it doesn't make sense to discuss a full take over with the liquidator. Just look at the 2017 annual account: operational result was -5,1m and cumulated loss (overgedragen verlies / perte transférée) of 5,7m. Now, calculate how much tickets ANR-LCY-ANR one must sell to recover that...

With the nomination of a liquidator, SHS Aviation nv/sa has only bought some time.

FLYAIR10
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Re: VLM (SHS Antwerp Aviation) news 2018

Post by FLYAIR10 »

by Passenger » 05 Sep 2018, 15:38
The liquidator appointed by the board is no bankruptcy curator appointed by the trade court. The liquidator isn't allowed to sell parts. He first has to make an inventory of all assets and debts. Only when all creditors have been paid, including mr Harm Prins, the liquidator is allowed to sell what is left, with balance going to the shareholders.

In between, the liquidator is allowed to negociate a full take over the company, thus including all assets ànd all debts: aircraft, aircraft parts, airport slots, a suspended AOC, brand name, the computers & furniture, unpaid invoices, unpaid VAT and other unpaid taxman bills, all staff related costs.

With the information that has been published so far, it doesn't make sense to discuss a full take over with the liquidator. Just look at the 2017 annual account: operational result was -5,1m and cumulated loss (overgedragen verlies / perte transférée) of 5,7m. Now, calculate how much tickets ANR-LCY-ANR one must sell to recover that...

With the nomination of a liquidator, SHS Aviation nv/sa has only bought some time.

Would it not have made sense to continue operations for a few weeks in line with the reduced schedule(LCY and ZRH + charters) ,sell 2-3 fokkers and at the same time start negotiations with interested parties to take over the company? As far as I can understand LCY and ZRH were showing an operational profit lately and together with some charters could have brought in extra money in the meantime.
But maybe overhead cost + labourcosts/redundancy fees were still too high for this scenario and they went for the hard close of ops...

Inquirer
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Re: VLM (SHS Antwerp Aviation) news 2018

Post by Inquirer »

The Flemish newspaper 'de tijd' ran an in depth story about the close business ties between the two VLMs that remain until this very day and how they affect any possible restart.
Quite interesting, but also very confusing and indicative of the lack of direction the investors in both airlines have put on display so far.
https://www.tijd.be/ondernemen/luchtvaa ... 46508.html
The sole asset of VLM Antwerp seems to be the flight license, mainly to British Airlines trying to escape from the consequences of Brexit.

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