16 Apr 2007 | Ref. 112/2007
Hatfield, United Kingdom. - VLM Airlines of Antwerp, Belgium has become the seventh operator of the BAe 146/Avro RJ to fly from London City Airport (LCY) with its first jet service starting this week.
Since pioneering the introduction of the BAe 146 in the late 1980s as the first jetliner cleared to operate into London City Airport’s 1199m runway with its 5.5 degree steep approach, BAE Systems Regional Aircraft has been a leading aircraft supplier to airlines operating into the airport, enabling growth to take place and contributing to its long-term profitable development.
The VLM Airlines aircraft is being provided by Southend-based Flightline of the UK, one of Europe’s leading ‘branded wet-lease’ charter operators.
With a total fleet of nine BAe 146 jetliners Flightline provides rapid on-demand sub-contract services to many leading airlines, as well as being a primary contractor to the oil industry in Aberdeen from where its aircraft provide a regular shuttle service to Scatsa in the Shetland Islands.
Flightline’s contract to operate the BAe 146-300 on behalf of VLM Airlines cements the strong position of the Belgian carrier at London’s city centre airport. Over the past 14 years VLM Airlines has grown to become the largest operator flying to and from London City Airport , offering over 100 flights each weekday, representing some 36% of all movements at the airport.
The 92-seat BAe 146-300 is the first jet airliner flown by VLM Airlines, which currently operates a 19-strong fleet of 50-seat Fokker 50s with a further two to be added later this year.
The BAe 146 will be operated on one of VLM Airline’s busiest routes between LCY and Rotterdam City. The introduction of the jet enables the airline to increase capacity on the route with the BAe 146 operating four of the 10 daily return flights.
VLM Airlines states that the BAe 146 performance will be evaluated over the course of 2007, and if it integrates successfully into the carrier’s operation as expected, it will consider introducing additional BAe 146 jets on to other high density routes in its network. The carrier is currently assessing the feasibility of introducing jet services on a further six of its existing routes from London City Airport, whilst a further 20 destinations, all over 500km from LCY are also being evaluated.
BAe 146/Avro RJ a major stimulus in the growth of LCY
The decision by VLM Airlines to introduce the BAe 146 to its London City Airport operations underlines the growing importance of the role played by the BAe 146/Avro RJ in the development and growth of the city-centre airport.
VLM Airlines becomes the fifth airline this year to announce either new or expanded BAe 146/Avro RJ services from LCY. Air One of Italy has started Avro RJ70 services to Milan and Rome while Air France and CityJet are launching the new ‘CityJet for Air France’ services linking LCY with Belfast, Dublin, Dundee, Edinburgh, Geneva, Madrid, Milan, Nice, Paris and Zurich using the airline’s newly-acquired Avro RJ85s. The re-branded BA Cityflyer, which is based on LCY with a fleet of 10 Avro RJ100s, also has announced route expansions from the airport with new links to Glasgow and Zurich, while SAS has announced that it will commence Avro RJ70 services from LCY to Oslo in August
In addition, Lufthansa Regional and Swiss International Airlines also operate BAe 146/Avro RJ services to and from London City, bringing the total BAe 146/Avro RJ operators serving the airport to seven. These airlines represent around one third of all daily departures and half of the daily seats offered.
About BAE Systems:
BAE Systems is a global defence and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With 88,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded £13.7 billion pounds sterling (US25.4 billion dollars) in 2006.
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David Dorman, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 1582 488336
Email: ddaviddorman@aol.com
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