INTRODUCTION
Hello fellow (frequent) flyers,
A few weeks ago I took the opportunity to try out the resurrected VLM Airlines. As you may know, this airline ceased operations under its own name a few years ago but since Jan this year they are back in business, operating from ANR to GVA, a double daily flight on weekdays operated by the Dutch workhorse F50. Nicknamed the 'Geneva Express', this is the 1st route that comes back (they operated to GVA also in the past) and by now a bunch of new routes from Belgium have been announced as well: from ANR to HAM and SOU and also from LGG to AVN, BLQ, NCE and VCE. I'm most happy to see this airline back in the skies and operating from my home airport ANR
So, for a bargain € 39 I bought myself a one way ticket to GVA and what you'll find below is a report in video format from this very flight.
But first, let's draw a line on the map (courtesy of Great Circle Mapper, copyright Karl L Schwartz).
As already mentioned I live very close to ANR and that very morning, I take the 1st public bus out to the airport which conveniently stops almost in front of my doorstep. 20 mins later I arrive at the airport with ample time to spare.
ANR
No OLCI with VLM Airlines yet so I manually check in at the desk where the kind agent blocks the seat next to me on her own account. "You'll have more space sir and the plane isn't full anyway" That's a good start :thumbup:
As ANR is obviously very small it virtually takes no time to clear security and a short while later I'm in the airside waiting area. The flight is called for boarding and as there are no gate bridges in ANR, I leisurely walk to my plane over the apron. Ah, nothing like the smell of fresh A1 in the morning
ANR to GVA
VG 121
Fokker 50 OO-VLF
STD-STA 07h15-08h50
Y class
seat 10A
ON BOARD FLIGHT VG 121
A warm welcome onboard by the sole female FA and I settle down in my seat 10A. The load is light, I count 11 pax. After the usual announcements, the props are fired to life and we taxi out for a runway 29 departure.
We takeoff in the murky Antwerp skies and when the seat belt sign is extinguished, the trolley comes out for the breakfast service. I'm glad VLM still delivers excellent service on that aspect, the croissant, fruits and tea are all fresh and delivered with a smile.
The remainder of the flight is uneventful and luckily the weather clears up for our arrival into GVA's runway 05. After landing a bit ahead of schedule, we taxi to one of the satellite terminals for disembarking.
VERDICT
VLM certainly didn't lose it imho. I paid peanuts - figure of speech - and got great service in return. In terms of convenience and value for money, this service certainly is a winner for me over the Brussels Airlines and easyJet services from BRU. Too bad ANR will soon be revamping its parking area and make it a paying service. This is/was a certainly also a major advantage over BRU, but I guess with the launch of the Jetairfly flights soon they must be smelling the $$$ lol!
Last but not least, here is the report:
TheFlyingSultan
I film with 
