AIRLINE NEWS

Keeping you up to date with all the latest developments from VLM Airlines and CityJet.

JOHAN VANNESTE, CHRISTINE OURMIÈRES AND GEOFFREY O’BYRNE-WHITE ANNOUNCE THE NEW UNIFIED BRAND

A NEW, UNIFIED AIRLINE

CITYJET AND VLM AIRLINES HAVE UNVEILED plans to strengthen their position as the best choice for time-conscious passengers wanting value for money travel between London and major European cities.

With a mission that includes getting travellers to their destination hassle-free and as quickly as possible, CityJet and VLM Airlines currently operate over 50 per cent of all aircraft movements at London City Airport.

At a briefing in central London, executives from both airlines announced that the Air France-KLM Group has given management the autonomy to develop the London City network for the business and premium-leisure marketplaces. This will include a move to a new, unified proposition under the CityJet brand and an increased number of services operated as Air France and KLM codeshares.

As part of the move, the VLM Airlines identity will gradually be phased out and, from next year, CityJet will be the single brand, although both airlines will continue to operate under their own air operator’s certificates (AOCs).

The Air France ticket desk at London City Airport has already been rebranded as CityJet and will incorporate VLM Airlines, while a new, improved website at www.cityjet.com will provide content that will be regularly updated and expanded. The site will allow access to all Air France-KLM Group e-services, including e-check-in, e-ticketing and Flying Blue.

VLM ENCORE BECOMES FLYING BLUE

VLM ENCORE MEMBERS WILL BE PLEASED to hear that our frequent flyer programme is being merged into Flying Blue, the loyalty programme run by Air France-KLM. The merger will take place in September, when VLM Encore points will be converted into Flying Blue Miles. All VLM Encore members have been advised to enrol in Flying Blue and register their membership number in their VLM Encore profile before 21 August.

WHAT STEPS SHOULD I TAKE?
For current Flying Blue members: Log in to your VLM Encore profile.
Enter your 10-digit Flying Blue card number.
Your registration will be automatically processed.

NOT YET ENROLLED IN FLYING BLUE?
Go to www.flyvlm.com/flyingblue and click on ‘enrol now’, then enter “VGEN” in the promotional code field. Once you’re enrolled, simply follow the steps for Flying Blue members above.

THE ADVANTAGES OF FLYING BLUE
Flying Blue membership opens up a world of privileges and earning opportunities across the Air France-KLM, CityJet and VLM Airlines network. Earn and spend Miles your way on flights, car rental, hotel stays and leisure activities, and enjoy benefits including priority waitlist, complimentary upgrades, extra baggage allowance, lounge access and more.

A FRENCH FIRST FOR VLM AIRLINES

THE FIRST EVER VLM AIRLINES AIRCRAFT TO RECEIVE A FRENCH NAME WAS BAPTISED IN A ceremony at London City Airport on 14 May. The Fokker 50 was named ‘Ville de Nantes’ by Mr. Patrick Rimbert, first deputy of the Mayor of Nantes and Vice President of Nantes Métropole, in recognition of the new route from London City to Nantes. This French first for VLM Airlines follows the carrier’s acquisition by Air France-KLM Group, and VLM Airlines will operate the London City to Nantes service on behalf of CityJet and Air France.

A group of dignitaries, business leaders and media from Nantes visited London to witness the naming ceremony, and to experience the convenience of the new link to the capital’s most central airport, which will help boost business and tourism to both cities. Flights on the route are carefully scheduled to give travellers a full day’s work in either city, and the new route will prove to be a valuable link for both business and leisure travellers flying between London and Nantes.

ART IN THE SKY

THE ACCLAIMED ARTIST PANAMARENKO RECENTLY VISITED ANTWERP International Airport to name a VLM Airlines aircraft as part of a competition organised by the airline and leading aviation magazine Airliner World. The magazine had invited its readers to choose a name for a Fokker 50 aircraft, and the judges selected ‘Panamarenko’ as the winning name because of the artist’s Antwerp origins and the fact that flying plays such an integral part in his work.

Panamarenko is renowned as an artist, engineer, poet, physicist, inventor and visionary, and he has pursued a singular course to explore and interpret flight, movement through space and the force of gravity. From aeroplanes to flying carpets, birds to flying saucers, the link with aviation is clear throughout his work.

The competition winner, Koyan Goeree from Eindhoven in the Netherlands, was particularly excited to be part of the naming ceremony because Panamarenko is his favourite artist. Speaking at the event, he said; “His art is a tribute to our common dream: the dream of flying”.

NEW WEBSITE CITYJET.COM

CITYJET RECENTLY LAUNCHED ITS NEW WEBSITE WWW.CITYJET.COM, offering more content and a clear overview of the CityJet network combining both the VLM Airlines and CityJet destinations throughout Europe. Special attention has been given to the enhanced online booking engine that now offers a one-way pricing display and clearly shows the inbound and outbound availability on one page. The major advantage of the online booking engine is that it offers our customers a clear overview displaying all-inclusive prices, together with the lowest available fare for the day of travel.

ANTWERP TO FRANKFURT

ON 4 MAY A NEW ROUTE WAS LAUNCHED between Antwerp and Frankfurt, prompting official celebrations in both cities. Flemish Minister president Kris Peeters and Flemish Vice Minister president Dirk Van Mechelen both attended a ceremony in Antwerp to mark the take off of the first flight between the cities, and the aircraft was received in Frankfurt by Mayor of Frankfurt Mrs. Petra Roth, who also named the aircraft ‘City of Frankfurt’.

Frankfurt is VLM Airlines’ third destination out of Antwerp, following London City Airport and Manchester. All flights are operated by a VLM Airlines Fokker 50 aircraft and are being offered in code-share with Air France. The code-share agreement is the first clearly visible cooperation in the Belgian market since VLM Airlines became part of the Air France-KLM Group.

The Frankfurt route is of great importance to Antwerp International Airport, which can once again play its trump card of being a comfortable and fast gateway to major European cities. The airport offers free parking, and it takes passengers just 15 minutes to go from the car park to the aircraft, including check-in and security check. Such huge time savings help to make Antwerp International Airport the ideal choice for business people.

93.8%

THE ON-TIME PERFORMANCE PERCENTAGE FOR the combined CityJet/VLM Airlines network was a staggering 93.8% in May – a fantastic achievement that helps us to make sure your journey is as fast and efficient as possible.

FLY TO DELIGHT

THE FLY TO DELIGHT SURVEY WAS DISTRIBUTED on all flights across the combined network in April, and has had a great response. Thank you to all 1,892 customers who took the time to fill in the survey – your valuable feedback will now be analysed and used for future product and service enhancements.

Detailed results will be made available on our website, but we can already announce that the percentage of delighted customers has increased by 2.7% for VLM Airlines, amounting to a wonderful 32.3% of customers who say they are delighted by our service. CityJet customers also took part in the survey this year, and their feedback was also quite phenomenal, with 23.3% of all CityJet customers claiming to be delighted by the service. These results are thanks to the hard work and experience of all the ground and crew staff across the network.

BUSINESS CALENDAR

2 JULY
LOCAL RESPONSES TO A GLOBAL CRISIS: AN IDEOPOLIS & OECD CONFERENCE
WELLCOME COLLECTION CONFERENCE CENTRE, LONDON
WWW.THEWORKFOUNDATION.COM
“This one-day conference will focus on how cities can lead the way into economic recovery. It will discuss the impact of the recession on UK and international cities, how different cities are responding now and what all cities need to do to take advantage of the upturn.”

6-7 JULY
THE FUTURE OF CARDS AND PAYMENTS
LE MÉRIDIEN PICCADILLY, LONDON
WWW.MARKETFORCE.EU.COM/CARDS
“The Future of Cards and Payments 2009 will address the key issues facing the cards and payments industry in this volatile climate. Attendees will benefit from insights into changing consumer behaviours, regulatory developments, innovative technology and forecasts of the future economic landscape.”

8-9 JULY
RENEWABLES 2009
RADISSON SAS PORTMAN, LONDON
WWW.MARKETFORCE.EU.COM/RENEWABLES
“Demand for renewable energy has never been higher. This leading event, now in its fourth year, continues to provide an excellent platform for senior industry leaders to discuss the strategic direction of the renewables sector. Our industry-leading speakers will be tackling issues such as the UK infrastructure and planning regime and the prospects for identifying profitable renewables projects.”

8-11 JULY
GLOBAL BUSINESS AND FINANCE RESEARCH CONFERENCE LONDON
PARK LANE HILTON, LONDON
WWW.JAABC.COM
“The primary goal of the conference will be to provide opportunities for business related academicians and professionals from various business related fields to publish their paper in one single resource.”