VLM Airlines
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VLM Airlines
Belgian carrier VLM is to become the first European Union operator of the Sukhoi Superjet 100 following a deal with Ilyushin Finance to lease two of the regional aircraft.
and if the MODS could move the recent http://www.pprune.org/airlines-airpo...ml#post8717171 posts over to here, then the topics, like the companies, can go each their way.
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(This was on the Cityjet thread but I'm replying over here as it's more relevant)
I suggest the choice is down to three factors:
Sukhoi and their lessors are DESPERATE for a European customer and I am sure the deal reflects this. Why else would an airline choose an unproven aircraft from a sanctions-hit country? Or conversely, why would a lessor of a proven aircraft type such as the E190, with plenty of demand for the product, offer any kind of sweet deal to what is effectively a startup? A typical lessor of Western equipment will be looking for a security deposit of perhaps 3 months rental. I'd speculate that Ilyushin Finance will have settled for little or no security deposit and potentially even a power-by-the-hour deal. I note that a VLM exec is quoted as saying they want to get 300 hours a month utilisation from the aircraft. That's - to say the least - pretty ambitious.
Not an obvious choice, but on the other hand not a complete jump in the dark. A lot of SSJ100 equipment is from western (even European) partners. For the engines, for example:
- The Customer Support Center (CSC) is based in France
- Distribution Centers (to date, two in France and one in Russia) supplying all spare parts.
- MRO Centers (to date, one in France and one in Russia).
- Customer staff training, with two complete training centers, in France and Russia.
- Price
- Price
- Price
Sukhoi and their lessors are DESPERATE for a European customer and I am sure the deal reflects this. Why else would an airline choose an unproven aircraft from a sanctions-hit country? Or conversely, why would a lessor of a proven aircraft type such as the E190, with plenty of demand for the product, offer any kind of sweet deal to what is effectively a startup? A typical lessor of Western equipment will be looking for a security deposit of perhaps 3 months rental. I'd speculate that Ilyushin Finance will have settled for little or no security deposit and potentially even a power-by-the-hour deal. I note that a VLM exec is quoted as saying they want to get 300 hours a month utilisation from the aircraft. That's - to say the least - pretty ambitious.
VLM have recently announced Antwerp-Hamburg and Rotterdam-Hamburg in addition to their existing Antwerp-Geneva
For those unaware, the V in the name stands for Vlaamse - or Flemish, ie the Dutch speaking part of Belgium. Yes, Antwerp is in northern Belgium and is predominantly Flemish.
It's been announced that VLM will launch routes from Liege in the south of Belgium to Avignon,Nice, Bologna and Venice each to be served 4 or 5 times per week from 1st May. Schedule looks like 1 aircraft based at Liege Mon-Fri with a 2nd aircraft (presumably from Antwerp) at weekends
Apart from being a bit late in the year to be launching summer seasonal routes, the choice of routes all seems a bit random compared to existing routes - I'm struggling to understand what sort of an airline VLM wants to be, its identity or its business plan. Is this just a way of making revenue at weekends when business demand is slack or is there more to this ? If so, why not base everything at Antwerp instead of 2 bases ?
Anyone have a good understanding of what VLM is all about ?
For those unaware, the V in the name stands for Vlaamse - or Flemish, ie the Dutch speaking part of Belgium. Yes, Antwerp is in northern Belgium and is predominantly Flemish.
It's been announced that VLM will launch routes from Liege in the south of Belgium to Avignon,Nice, Bologna and Venice each to be served 4 or 5 times per week from 1st May. Schedule looks like 1 aircraft based at Liege Mon-Fri with a 2nd aircraft (presumably from Antwerp) at weekends
Apart from being a bit late in the year to be launching summer seasonal routes, the choice of routes all seems a bit random compared to existing routes - I'm struggling to understand what sort of an airline VLM wants to be, its identity or its business plan. Is this just a way of making revenue at weekends when business demand is slack or is there more to this ? If so, why not base everything at Antwerp instead of 2 bases ?
Anyone have a good understanding of what VLM is all about ?
Last edited by davidjohnson6; 26th Feb 2015 at 09:38.
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Can't say much but a high chance some more random routes will be added imminently. Might surprise a few posters on here to.....
2 new aircraft due and I expect a new base will be required for the routes if they come off.
2 new aircraft due and I expect a new base will be required for the routes if they come off.
SSJ100's service entry delayed by more than a year: Certification issues delay Superjet introduction at VLM - 3/2/2015 - Flight Global
All new routes, even the tourist oriented ones, will be operated by F50's...
All new routes, even the tourist oriented ones, will be operated by F50's...
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Can't say much but a high chance some more random routes will be added imminently. Might surprise a few posters on here to.....
2 new aircraft due and I expect a new base will be required for the routes if they come off.
2 new aircraft due and I expect a new base will be required for the routes if they come off.
Is there a chance they may start routes to London again particularly from Ireland?
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Waterford
Waterford to London Luton and Birmingham in booking engine on VLM website. Luton showing 2 daily, once during weekend. No indication about frequency for BHX flights.
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Good news, but sad to see LTN rather than SEN gets the London flight, they could really use a boost what with all the Flybe shenanigans. WAT must be breathing a sigh of relief, I had a horrible feeling that they were going the way of Galway.
Adam
Adam
Last edited by AdamThePassenger; 9th Mar 2015 at 12:19.
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"Sad"? The move of the previously very successful Aer Arann Waterford-Luton flight to Southend was one of the main factors in its demise. No disrespect to Southend, but any airline restarting a Waterford-London flight and voluntarily choosing Southend over Luton would need their head examined.
It's good news that LTN has regained its WAT route. WAT-SEN was never a logical move and was entirely politically motivated. All it achieved was to kill the WAT-LON route completely and it's good to see it back at LTN.
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It's long overdue. I never thought of VLM as a potential operator but given the previous success of the WAT-LTN route there's every reason to hooe this will be a roaring success and hopefully just the beginning of an association with LTN for VLM
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Just a look at the booking engine will show just how popular these routes are.
Most promotional prices already gone on route to Luton.
Great news especially for Waterford.
Just shows sometimes you can't simply move a route and expect joe public to move with it
Most promotional prices already gone on route to Luton.
Great news especially for Waterford.
Just shows sometimes you can't simply move a route and expect joe public to move with it