VLM Airlines (Brussels, ex-Thomas Cook) news 2018

[TLspotting]

Using registrations traditionally (but not excusively) reserved for SN?

Maybe they'll rebrand as Sabena
Although I doubt that LH sold the brand.

It would be nice ! I still have the idea in my pocket !

I think the name is already chosen, that's why the OO-SB* series...

A name like Sierra Belgium Airways or Sierra Bird Airways would be nice !

[koninckske]

SB... Sobelair?

[CTBke]

OO-SBA A321-231 VLM Airlines Brussels (ex G-ZBAF)

Using registrations traditionally (but not excusively) reserved for SN?

maybe SN will go for OO-EW in the future ?

[DAT2527]

viewtopic.php?t=49656

Well, the brand name 'Sabena' was for sale some years ago...

[DAT2527]

First commercial flight of the new a321 00-SBA seems to be 01/08/18.

[Boeing767copilot]

[CTBke]

First commercial flight of the new a321 00-SBA seems to be 01/08/18.

where to ?

[nordikcam]

First commercial flight of the new a321 00-SBA seems to be 01/08/18.

where to ?

Antalya Flight HQ 3001

[sn26567]

VLM Airlines felt necessary to issue a press release today to deny it was in liquidation. Friday's press release of SHS Aviation announcing the bankruptcy of VLM Regional Antwerp sent confusion on the market.

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/vlm- ... quidation/

When VLM was split into two parts, one of them (ideally the Brussels one) should have changed names immediately to avoid such a confusion. And even now, a name change is highly desirable in order not to be associated with a dommed brand name.

[C96C]

OO-TCT has left the fleet of VLM Airlines. It was ferried on 27/10 to MAN:
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/oo-tct

And has been cancelled on the Belgian aircraft register today (31/10):
http://www.mobilit.fgov.be:7081/bcaa/ai ... search.jsf

According to Planespotters.net she will fly for Thomas Cook Airlines Balearics in the future:
https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/ ... cs/j6GGind

[Mr Frost]

They just signed for 2 a330
First one will come in januari

[luchtzak]

They just signed for 2 a330
First one will come in januari

Do you have some more information Mr Frost ?

[Fairfax]

They seem to be running a rather stable ACMI operation (in silence)? I also noticed on the "moniteur" that they received a significant capital injection in june. Could they have a chance to survive?

[tangolima]

Hello

Heard the same now about these A330's. Will be used for BRU china flights and are coming from a German club (Ex Air Berlin?) But like said just rumours!

Greetings,

[Passenger]

They seem to be running a rather stable ACMI operation (in silence)? I also noticed on the "moniteur" that they received a significant capital injection in june. Could they have a chance to survive?

It's not the kind of capital raise that bank managers like to see, because no cash is injected: “...De inbreng in natura voor een bedrag van € 8.179.534 door de Besloten Vennootschap SF Aviation Holding, tot kapitaalverhoging van de naamloze vennootschap VLM Airlines (“de Vennootschap), bestaat uit de inbreng van schuldvorderingen ten bedrage van € 8.179.534 ten aanzien van de Besloten Vennootschap SF Aviation Holding..."

Google Translates this is into: "...The contribution in kind for an amount of € 8,179,534 by the Private Company SF Aviation Holding, to increase the capital of the limited company VLM Airlines ("the Company), consists of the contribution of debts to the amount of € 8,179,534 in respect of the Private limited company SF Aviation Holding..."

http://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/tsv_pd ... 317369.pdf

[luchtzak]

Heard the same now about these A330's. Will be used for BRU china flights and are coming from a German club (Ex Air Berlin?) But like said just rumours!

We need a little more than a rumour to write an article (and a scoop)

[TLspotting]

I posted on my own Facebook page what is wrote here, but the basic info.

VLM Airlines NV has no clear way to contact them, so I'll try to send them a letter to their HQ

[sn26567]

It is clear that, if two A330s are acquired, they will come from a lessor who will require serious guarantees that he will be paid.

[convair]

It's not the kind of capital raise that bank managers like to see, because no cash is injected:
Google Translates this is into: "...The contribution in kind for an amount of € 8,179,534 by the Private Company SF Aviation Holding, to increase the capital of the limited company VLM Airlines ("the Company), consists of the contribution of debts to the amount of € 8,179,534 in respect of the Private limited company SF Aviation Holding..."
http://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/tsv_pd ... 317369.pdf

It's only psychological imho: such contribution in kind is as good as a cash injection whilst leaving the debt untouched, even for bankers. Whatever the method used, the company is € 8,179,534 richer (or less poor ) after that operation. [And, btw, it's much better than if the shareholders were merely granting an additional loan.]
In this particular case, such capital increase (whether by cash injection or contribution in kind) over what was a meager € 65,000 capital should give the banks more confidence and possibly (depending of the level and term of its other current debts) enable the company to borrow from banks, if only for (part of) its working capital.

[Aerofool]

According to De Tijd, VLM will probably take over a few planes of Small Planet Airlines. Harm Prins denies the deal is closed yet.
https://www.tijd.be/ondernemen/luchtvaa ... 67893.html

The original announcement comes from fvw.de:
https://www.fvw.de/news/mobilitaet/airl ... 3747/18102