JERSEY continues to be connected to London City Airport, VLM last week taking over the FlyBe route with an all year round three times weekdaily service (with one flight on a Saturday and two on a Sunday). The airline now carries about one third of all passengers at the airport and with 76 daily movements is the largest operator. VLM now has 12 50-seat Fokker 50 jet props, which may increase by two more for the winter. It says that it is considering a limited expansion of routes for 2005 but points out that it can move very quickly if the opportunity arises (typically with Jersey where FlyBe dropped the route as it disposes of its Dash 8-300 fleet). VLM says that with LCY as a hub Jersey day visits in either direction are now possible from the other five points it serves, Antwerp, Brussels, Liverpool, Luxembourg, Manchester and Rotterdam. The venerable but pristine Fokker 50s are proving to be very cost effective for the airline which unlike the so-called budget carriers offers a complimentary bar and sandwich service on all flights. From left to right we show Senator Leonard Norman, president of the airport board, Mike Lanyon, airport director and Johan Vanneste, managing director of VLM.
http://www.flyvlm.com