VLM Airlines
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: London
Posts: 837
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
With VLM's Saturday schedule consisting of a single WAT-LTN rotation, it would seem perfect opportunity to explore other routes. JER was always a popular route at weekends back on the day. They could easily squeeze in a couple of flights there, something like WAT-LTN-JER-LTN-JER-LTN-WAT.
I wonder if they'll be tempted to try other routes?
I wonder if they'll be tempted to try other routes?
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Dublin
Posts: 2,348
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
VLM are recruiting cabin crew for Waterford. Great news for Waterford, hopefully expansion to come
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Antwerp
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This doesn't surprise me at all. Their routes out of Antwerp are said to be performing very poorly and labour costs in Belgium are much higher compared to Ireland (pretty much opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to Western European countries).
Pretty common sense really to hire locally in a low cost country when that's where you're doing your best business anyway.
Pretty common sense really to hire locally in a low cost country when that's where you're doing your best business anyway.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Planet earth
Posts: 406
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Vlm is lacking a vision for the company. They are trying 'this and that' but without succes. Although it is pretty hard since their target public are businesspeople which is a more narrow targetpulic than leisure travellers. To be honest, i think their future is very bleak. I would not be surprised if the company is not there anymore in a few years. And i heard that the competitor in antwerp, jetairfly, is doing very well. I feel that VLM should have started these routes much earlier before the arrival of jetairfly. Now it is too late.
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: London Whipsnade Wildlife Park
Posts: 5,038
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How is Jetairfly a competitor? I really don't see how a charter airline for parent Tui competes with a regional scheduled airline at Antwerp?
I personally think that there are other niche routes available from somewhere like Luton.
bmi have done well linking in to Lufthansa as an example with through ticketing. Maybe this is the kind of market that opens possibilities for VLM longer-term espacially as the Fokker 50 fleet will have to be replaced with a new type at some point in the future?
I personally think that there are other niche routes available from somewhere like Luton.
bmi have done well linking in to Lufthansa as an example with through ticketing. Maybe this is the kind of market that opens possibilities for VLM longer-term espacially as the Fokker 50 fleet will have to be replaced with a new type at some point in the future?
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Anywhere
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
More ACMI work for VLM as Air Vallée is leasing a Fokker 50.
Italy's Air Vallée leasing a Belgian Fokker 50 - ch-aviation.com
Italy's Air Vallée leasing a Belgian Fokker 50 - ch-aviation.com
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Dublin
Posts: 2,348
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
WAT is doing well for VLM esp WAT-LTN but is it enough to keep them going as a company
most of the other routes as said above are doing poor
most of the other routes as said above are doing poor
LTN - 63.3%
BHX - 56.7%
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Antwerp
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Looks like they - quietly - removed their lowest fare category across all routes. Gone are the 'VLM Promo' fares, the cheapest offer is now the 'VLM Essential' tariff. Comes down mostly to a small to rather substantial price hike, depending on the route:
(All fares O/W)
Antwerp - Southampton: 49 Euro -> 54 Euro
Hamburg - Southampton: 126 Euro -> 65 Euro (yes, going down)
Waterford - Birmingham: 49 Euro -> 81 Euro
Waterford - London Luton: 49 Euro -> 83 Euro
Antwerp - Hamburg: 48 Euro -> 63 Euro
Rotterdam - Hamburg: 58 Euro -> 64 Euro
Antwerp - Geneva: 39 Euro -> 55 Euro
(All fares O/W)
Antwerp - Southampton: 49 Euro -> 54 Euro
Hamburg - Southampton: 126 Euro -> 65 Euro (yes, going down)
Waterford - Birmingham: 49 Euro -> 81 Euro
Waterford - London Luton: 49 Euro -> 83 Euro
Antwerp - Hamburg: 48 Euro -> 63 Euro
Rotterdam - Hamburg: 58 Euro -> 64 Euro
Antwerp - Geneva: 39 Euro -> 55 Euro
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Ireland
Posts: 1,621
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Dublin
Posts: 2,348
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I wasn't sure about the commercial rationale for this service, but based on the timings this seems also to be a way of tying the Waterford aircraft/crew into the rest of the network (WAT-BHX also operates Mon/Wed/Fri) which makes some sense (and of course would theoretically allow VLM to sell a WAT-BHX-ANR connection in both directions). Does anyone know how VLM had been rotating the WAT aircraft until now?
Would expect any aircraft changes to take place on Tuesday/Thursday or Saturday/Sunday from WAT-Antwerp
Guess BHX-Antwerp will give flexibility but you would hope there is commercial reasons behind the service as that flexibility won't keep it operating for long.
Arriving BHX at 12.05 and not departing until 14.30 when WAT arrives at 12.35 and departs at 13.05 (Mon/Wed) so if it was related to simple crew changes Antwerp would depart at the same time. WAT arrives and departs at 14.25/14.55 (Fri/Sun)