VLM Airlines
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VLM Airlines
There is a report in a Dutch newspaper that KLM are negotiating to take over VLM, the Belgian airline that flys mainly to London City. Any thoughts on this rumour?
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Nice one
This one is a good one It's a classic company to be taken over profitable since inception wonder if it's KLM or chitty hopper that's bidding??????
Remember Remember the Air uk fiasco XXX
Remember Remember the Air uk fiasco XXX
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... usually means reports of talks leaked before they were ready to go public.
Seems like a good fit. VLM has been talking about a move to larger aircraft - Embraer 170 jets (good for LCY?), so it's certainly looking to expand.
Also, being able to feed into KL/AF hubs would certainly be of interest to those markets in VG's network not yet linked to AMS/CDG (e.g. JER).
Seems like a good fit. VLM has been talking about a move to larger aircraft - Embraer 170 jets (good for LCY?), so it's certainly looking to expand.
Also, being able to feed into KL/AF hubs would certainly be of interest to those markets in VG's network not yet linked to AMS/CDG (e.g. JER).
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There is a report in a Dutch newspaper that KLM are negotiating to take over VLM, the Belgian airline that flys mainly to London City. Any thoughts on this rumour?
That said, it might stop VLM randomly cancelling not-so-busy flights, which can't be a bad thing as it's why I stopped using them for LCY-AMS and went over to KLM, who have cancelled only one so far that I've been booked on (and that was technical problems).
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klm take over vlm
well, i fly all the time from LCY, all airlines at some point cancel, or have some sort of problems in operation!!!
But one thing is for sure, there is a difference in handling agents, especially at LCY and hopefully if this is true at least they will go back to a decent agent!!!
But one thing is for sure, there is a difference in handling agents, especially at LCY and hopefully if this is true at least they will go back to a decent agent!!!
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I do hope this is just another rumour, as there are a lot of us who would rather crawl over a bed of broken glass than go back to working for that disgusting light blue Dutch playschool... If it turns out to be true we'll all be trying to commit suicide with our plastic cutlery, especially if they handle the takeover as well as they did with the AirUK one. And learning from past mistakes is certainly not something they are good at...
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well, i fly all the time from LCY, all airlines at some point cancel, or have some sort of problems in operation!!!
They may be cheaper but for business travel that isn't that important.
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Having operated on the route for both light and dark blue, I can assure you that dark blue has an infinitely better attitude towards operating flights than light blue. It is not by accident that VLM has opened a large can of 'whoop-ass' on KLM in it's own back yard. It is solely down to being better... If you have had a bad experience with VLM I am sorry for that. No airline gets it right all the time but I can promise you VLM try harder than most. Fact is that operating conditions in London are getting tough these days and as the largest operator in LCY, and keen to stay that way, VLM is having to fight harder for it's share in a rapidly expanding airport. However, by and large the management is up to the job and largely successful. But, as I say there will always be occassions where it doesn't quite work. After all, VLM is only small and doesn't have the system redundancy of the bigger companies in terms of either crew or aircraft. If it's a route you use often have you tried writing to the Director of Operations in VLM? I'll put money on it you'll get a thoughtful reply. I'll also put money on it that it's more than you'll get from KLM. Hell, they wouldn't even reply to letters from their own employees!! Only significant problem in VLM right now is working conditions, but hopefully that is a temporary blip... (and is a story for another thread maybe in the future.) 
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If they were to take over, wouldn't it be best to keep the companies seperate and just streamline the two operations meaning connections for VLM passengers onto KLM/NW services from AMS?
If there is something in this rumour, it will take a long time to got through and it wont be cheap for KLM/AF, they are a VERY respectable and profitable airline are VLM!
If there is something in this rumour, it will take a long time to got through and it wont be cheap for KLM/AF, they are a VERY respectable and profitable airline are VLM!
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Monopoly
That will be some monopoly at LCY for the AF/KLM group if it were to happen - we would have the following
KLM Cityhopper
VLM
Cityjet
At a guess prob at least 65% of the business at LCY, which could have it's advantages..........and disadvatages
KLM Cityhopper
VLM
Cityjet
At a guess prob at least 65% of the business at LCY, which could have it's advantages..........and disadvatages
