PPRuNe Forums - VLM Airlines

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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.

More on the Superjet 100 deal: Lara News Show

(This was on the Cityjet thread but I'm replying over here as it's more relevant)

Quote:

Originally Posted by DIBO (Post 8719402)

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.

From the ANR base that's 5 - 6 hrs by car (the distributioncenter in France, that is :-) )

I suggest the choice is down to three factors:

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.

It's a very brave decision (I'm imagining Sir Humphrey while I say that). It could work out wonderfully well for them. Or not.

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 ?

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.

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...

Quote:

Any idea when these routes may be announced?
Is there a chance they may start routes to London again particularly from Ireland?

Maybe they will open a UK base. Who knows !!!!

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.

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamThePassenger (Post 8894612)

Good news, but sad to see LTN rather than SEN gets the London flight

"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.

Ah right, was not aware of that. I take it back :P I am only so supportive of SEN because my grandparents live within walking distance of it ;)

Adam :D

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.

It seems I am entirely outvoted. Apologies for not checking my facts fully. I am just glad to hear Waterford has a future tbh...

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

Along with shipping hubs at Southampton, Antwerp, Rotterdam and Hamburg, is Le Havre perhaps a candidate airport for VLM ?

VLM CEO was speaking about commencing WAT services earlier this week and said the response had being phenomenal!

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:=