The VLM brand will gradually disappear from the marketplace over the next year, as Air France-KLM moves to unify its London City operations under the Cityjet offering.
The two airlines account for 50 per cent of all movements at LCY, and Air France-KLM has been gradually combining the carriers’ schedules, as well as merging the VLM Encore loyalty scheme into Air France’s Flying Blue programme (see online news May 23).
This latest announcement will see Cityjet and VLM retaining their own air operator certificates (AOCs), but will result in the Cityjet brand being gradually adopted across the whole of the group’s London City network.
As part of the merging of the two brands Air France-KLM has launched a new website at cityjet.com, and is also developing a new site specifically aimed at the business traveller, “with all the tools and functionality required to ensure we are the smarter choice for time-conscious business passengers travelling to and from London”.
The combined schedules mean the Cityjet brand will serve 17 European destinations, with 700 flights per week from LCY.
Belgian carrier VLM (short for Vlaamse Luchttransportmaatschappij, or Flemish Air Transport Company) started operations in 1993 from its hub in Antwerp, and uses a fleet of Fokker 50 planes. These will now be combined with Cityjet’s RJ85 aircraft under the one brand.
For more information visit cityjet.com.
Report by Mark Caswell
