Belgian carrier VLM (Vlaamse Luchtvaart Maatschappij) has announced its eighth consecutive year of profitabiliy, despite the difficult market and competition from the LCC.
For the year ending December 31, 2005, the company reported after tax profits of 1,35 million euros - a 43 % increase over 2004.
My comment : SNBA/VE could perhaps ask them a tip of two ?
VLM keeps doing fine.
Moderator: Latest news team
-
airazurxtror
- Posts: 3769
- Joined: 17 Nov 2005, 00:00
To Atlantis and burner 737 : could you just explain why one cannot compare VLM and SNBA/VE ?
Some questions can rightly be asked by an outsider :
- Why do that Belgian airline post recurrent profits whilst these two other are forever struggling to keep afloat ?
- VLM obviously makes something better than SNBA and Virgin Express. What ? Choice of destinations ? of aircraft ? Better all-round service to customer ? Better management ? Better staff ? A clear view of goals and means to achieve them ?
- SNBA/VE want to be, it seems, serving all kind of customers, going to all destination, regardless of profit, just for the prestige of being THE Belgian flag carrier, like a born-again Sabena ! Circumstances have changed, you know ... SNBA obviously has never really made the break with Sabena : nearly the same c/s, the same S on the tail, and the same fumbling around without a clear strategy... At SNBA's own risks !
Some questions can rightly be asked by an outsider :
- Why do that Belgian airline post recurrent profits whilst these two other are forever struggling to keep afloat ?
- VLM obviously makes something better than SNBA and Virgin Express. What ? Choice of destinations ? of aircraft ? Better all-round service to customer ? Better management ? Better staff ? A clear view of goals and means to achieve them ?
- SNBA/VE want to be, it seems, serving all kind of customers, going to all destination, regardless of profit, just for the prestige of being THE Belgian flag carrier, like a born-again Sabena ! Circumstances have changed, you know ... SNBA obviously has never really made the break with Sabena : nearly the same c/s, the same S on the tail, and the same fumbling around without a clear strategy... At SNBA's own risks !
well airazurxtror,
you answered your own questions ...
VLM made a better Choice of destinations, of aircraft, Better all-round service to the customer, Better management, Better staff and a clear view of goals and means to achieve them.
as you might know the service that VLM gives their customers is one of best in Europe on that type of flights !
The Fokker 50 is one of the only aircrafts in the world who are on paper more expensive then they actually are.
Regards Tim
you answered your own questions ...
VLM made a better Choice of destinations, of aircraft, Better all-round service to the customer, Better management, Better staff and a clear view of goals and means to achieve them.
as you might know the service that VLM gives their customers is one of best in Europe on that type of flights !
The Fokker 50 is one of the only aircrafts in the world who are on paper more expensive then they actually are.
Regards Tim
VLM have a very restricted and cleverly chosen selection of high-yield destinations,that allows for relatively non-competetive envirenment operation.
Would they have to convert into a "european network" carrier,I doubt the results would be as good.Their fares are excessevely high on "business-mens-routes" like Hamburg-Rotterdam,where a mid-week return ticket costs a whopping 750 €!!!!
Great if they can yield that high - but -as some suggest- you can not compare them with SN Brussls ,Easyjet or Air Berlin. That's a different business segment .
Would they have to convert into a "european network" carrier,I doubt the results would be as good.Their fares are excessevely high on "business-mens-routes" like Hamburg-Rotterdam,where a mid-week return ticket costs a whopping 750 €!!!!
Great if they can yield that high - but -as some suggest- you can not compare them with SN Brussls ,Easyjet or Air Berlin. That's a different business segment .
VLM always seems to be the odd one in aviation. While other companies struggle to get their break-even, go bankrupt, or struggle to get their planes filled, VLM just continues to climb. I still remember myself looking to the Antwerp apron with the 2 VLM airplanes back then (VLM and VLE I guess). How many they have now?
But one thing, when I worked for VLM (about 4 years ago now), pilots and mechanics had very low payments. I really hope the personnel of VLM get better standards now and that they also get piece of the cake.
But one thing, when I worked for VLM (about 4 years ago now), pilots and mechanics had very low payments. I really hope the personnel of VLM get better standards now and that they also get piece of the cake.
-
Zenfookpower
- Posts: 158
- Joined: 25 Sep 2005, 00:00
- Location: The Great Lakes (USA)
