VLM Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Netherlands
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With Liege, VLM has stepped into an unknown market. Unwise in my opinion. I had kept the services close to home. A few examples: Antwerp - Berlin, Antwerp - Munich, Antwerp/Liege - Manchester and perhaps some routes from Rotterdam and Groningen.
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Europe
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I'd say they will be happy to survive, so new exotic routes should be the last thing on their mind. They fly around really empty planes from Antwerp and Liege - single digit loads are not unheard of....
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Outer London
Age: 43
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I'm not surprised LGG failed, it was a kamikaze set of routes and frequencies. When you are in reasonable proximity to BRU/CRL/CGN/DUS and others with extensive networks and much lower costs than can be achieved with a F50 you need a sensible offering aiming at convenience.
That is most certainly not Bologna or Venice for starters, the former in particular hardly being a key tourist draw.
I see some logic in Nice, which sees service from just about every French-speaking airport in Europe. 1 or 2 weekly though at the weekend would have sufficed though.
Avignon only sees about 3/4 seasonal pax flights weekly to the UK, I'm not sure there was massive pent up demand from LGG. Again, perhaps weekly on a Saturday may have had a chance.
Perhaps also a Saturday flight to JER, and a ski flight or two in winter.
I'm sure opportunities for niche routes do exist that could be exploited, they just need to be more sensible about it.
That is most certainly not Bologna or Venice for starters, the former in particular hardly being a key tourist draw.
I see some logic in Nice, which sees service from just about every French-speaking airport in Europe. 1 or 2 weekly though at the weekend would have sufficed though.
Avignon only sees about 3/4 seasonal pax flights weekly to the UK, I'm not sure there was massive pent up demand from LGG. Again, perhaps weekly on a Saturday may have had a chance.
Perhaps also a Saturday flight to JER, and a ski flight or two in winter.
I'm sure opportunities for niche routes do exist that could be exploited, they just need to be more sensible about it.
VLM could look at LTN-JER/GCI. Routes with a long pedigree, and surely capable of sustaining a 50-seater during summer at least. Yes, competition from other London airports, but LTN has a good catchment. Would need to be from April 16 though.
Also of no interest to FR or EZY.
Also of no interest to FR or EZY.
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: London
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I'd love to see VLM have a crack at LTN-JER/GCI.
I agree that both routes could probably sustain an F50 operation especially in summer. Hopefully they'll be tempted to have a go
I agree that both routes could probably sustain an F50 operation especially in summer. Hopefully they'll be tempted to have a go
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Antwerp
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I see no good reason at all for them to start using BRU (again), certainly not on a 'risky' route. ANR is too close, it's their home airport and substantially cheaper to operate from.
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: UK
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Does anyone know how long the current agreement with WX, to provide F50's to operate the LCY to ANR, RTM and NTE, has left to run?
Have asked this question on also on the WX thread, but thought I would post here as well.
Someone has said on the WX thread they think until the end of this Summer. Anyone able to confirm?
Have asked this question on also on the WX thread, but thought I would post here as well.
Someone has said on the WX thread they think until the end of this Summer. Anyone able to confirm?
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Southern Ireland
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Loads continue to slowly increase, I think the late launch lost a fair few passengers who booked elsewhere.
Seats are now on sale up to March 2016 so hopefully they are here to stay for a while. Schedule stays the same until November with some LTNs getting the chop for December to March.
5Q
Seats are now on sale up to March 2016 so hopefully they are here to stay for a while. Schedule stays the same until November with some LTNs getting the chop for December to March.
5Q
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: UK
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June numbers are in.
WAT-LTN -- 2883 PAX 58% LF
WAT-BHX -- 856 PAX 50% LF
SOU-ANR -- 123 PAX
SOU-HAM -- 265 PAX .. 17% combined ANR & HAM?
WAT-LTN -- 2883 PAX 58% LF
WAT-BHX -- 856 PAX 50% LF
SOU-ANR -- 123 PAX
SOU-HAM -- 265 PAX .. 17% combined ANR & HAM?
Last edited by 78Whiskey; 16th Jul 2015 at 13:43.
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Southampton, U.K
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That is an improvement on last month for the SOU routes, although I am doubtful over their future is loads remain this poor. Having said that the tickets don't appear to have been that cheap so hopefully the yield is a little better than the loads.
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Antwerp
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Bear in mind that, once numbers for July and August hit the web, VLM has reduced flights on the SOU-ANR-HAM route to just 3 per week. Effective Monday (20JUL) and up until the end of August.
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Southampton, U.K
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That should help loads, the route seems to revert to 5 weekly after and remains so over the winter. I do hope the route can develop, especially considering that unlike many airlines VLM are giving it time to grow. It probably needs to be promoted more widely at either end as well.