Ideal VLM fleet...

PH-WSN · Post by **PH-WSN** » 29 Feb 2004, 06:02

Well we have a lot of VLM fans here (including myself..) What would you think should be their ideal fleet. They currently operate 12 Fokker 50 aircraft... let's say they grow to the level of of a international "flanders flag" carrier with a lot of regional traffic... But with connections to Tokio, New York, L.A., Rio de Janero, Hong Kong and (for the spotters...) St. Maarten!. I would love to see an airline with a good european network wich boasts the VLM service!

I would hope to see them look like this

20 Fokker 50s
14 Fokker 70s new build by Rekkof
10 Fokker 100s new build by Rekkof
20 Airbus A319s
8 Airbus A321s
6 Airbus A330-200s
4 Airbus A340-500s (They would look so sweet in the VLM livery...)
2 Airbus A340-600s

Post by **sn26567** » 29 Feb 2004, 10:25

Another dreamer at high level!

There are at least two obstacles at such an expansion:

1) It needs a financing capacity that VLM does not have
2) It needs a market. VLM is a niche player that can succeed in small markets (LCY, ANR, RTM, LUX), but it will fail as a mainstream airline.

V-Bird · Post by **V-Bird** » 29 Feb 2004, 11:40

Well some few months ago ( maby 4 or 5 ) VLM visit Woensdrecht and Bergen op Zoom ( fokker store and maintance ). i Know that they where there only for information about the F70,
also i heard that Tyrolian Airlines made a VLM testrun from Rotterdam to Londen with a F70 for creating Data.

PH-WSN · Post by **PH-WSN** » 29 Feb 2004, 11:49

I just found out that the CEO behind Rekkof also has a finger in the soup at VLM. Jaap Rosen Jacobsen is the CEO of Rekkof and also owns a big part of VLM. The Rekkof website states that during this summer they will announce if a possible production will take place....

V-Bird · Post by **V-Bird** » 29 Feb 2004, 11:53

also i read last week in the newspaper that the "boss "from lufthansa techniks has told that the f70 would be the ideal regional jet for lufthansa and SAS.....

It seems that the little fokker is popular, also Air france is did a same statement.... maby a new production...would be nice!

Jense · Post by **Jense** » 29 Feb 2004, 12:00

For me, the current VLM fleet is very nice. Nice, good, young planes, friendly crews, etc...
They don't need to change their fleet and they can't change their fleet...

greettzzz

A318 · Post by **A318** » 29 Feb 2004, 13:07

Rekkof will only start production when they receive at least hundred orders. If they restart, the aircrafts will be build in China.
Since my application with Rekkof (something I send 7 months ago) was replied with this information I gave up hope. Anybody can make plans and anouncements but if I had the rights and info Rekkof has I already started the production from the F70 again. No other 70 seater is build by the quality of the F70 and everybody knows that in aviation. Sometime people need to take a guess.

Erwin

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 29 Feb 2004, 14:54

sn26567 wrote:Another dreamer at high level!

There are at least two obstacles at such an expansion:

1) It needs a financing capacity that VLM does not have
2) It needs a market. VLM is a niche player that can succeed in small markets (LCY, ANR, RTM, LUX), but it will fail as a mainstream airline.

I agree with what you say Andre - VLM are a commuter-airport airline, hence their massive success at London City, and they need a fleet which reflects this. As LCY is their major hub (and I don't mean home airport or base but hub, this is where the majority of their services operate through) they need a type which can handle the difficult steep approach, the comparatively short runway and the small apron space at this airport. I think the airline needs a regional jet type in order to increase available passenger capacity (they are very popular and their flights get very booked up early) and also increase their route network to include places out of the range of the F50 but still desirable for the commuter market that they aim at.