KLM buys VLM Airlines
by JFC AdminIt has been announced that Air France KLM has purchased Belgian airline VLM. The airline has the largest number of flights out of London City Airport. Air France KLM started a massive expansion at London City in 2007 through their Irish subsidiary CityJet and VLM will add destinations including Manchester, Rotterdam, Jersey, Brussels and Luxembourg to the AF KLM London City route network.
Not much is known about the merger yet so we can’t be sure whether the VLM brand will survive or will the airlines operations be merged into that of KLM or Air France. Whatever happens it seems likely that VLM routes will be eligible for Flying Blue miles which will be a great bonus for those who currently fly regularly with Air France or KLM.
VLM offers better service than most other short-haul airlines with a high quality catering offering (by short haul standards), will these be replaced with KLM’s ‘Trattoria’ sandwiches (which are decent as far as sandwiches go but not very filling) or CityJet’s unimpressive sandwiches? As well as better food, cold drinks are served in real glasses and hot drinks in china which is something you do not get on CityJet or KLM Cityhopper.
The high level of service is what has made VLM move from a small regional Belgian carrier based in Antwerp to the largest airline at London City (although as CityJet has larger aircraft they have more seats available). I think it’s important for KLM to recognise that this level of service will be important particularly on routes where they compete with rail travel such as London - Manchester, Brussels or Antwerp. In the past competition between KLM and VLM on the London City - Amsterdam route has made KLM improve its service on this route. Hopefully these improvements will stay as BA are launching a London City - Amsterdam service in 2008, both KLM and VLM offer a better frequency to Amsterdam than BA is planning on offering so BA will have a hard job competing on this route unless they can offer a better service.