SHS Aviation BV, the parent company of Belgian airline VLM, is temporarily reducing its scheduled flight activities and implementing a fleet reduction.
The company has decided to focus on the Antwerp-London City Airport and Antwerp-Zurich scheduled routes, as well as also deploying its aircraft for more private, charter and ACMI flights – placing one aircraft with fixed crew in the market with The Aviation Factory – a customised air transport service in the Benelux.
VLM CEO Johan Maertens said: “The current aviation industry is so dynamic that it is common for destinations and flight frequencies to be constantly evaluated and adapted according to the season, the performance of existing routes and new opportunities that arise on the market.
“The existing routes are also continuously monitored at VLM. The available aircraft capacity is then deployed on routes and activities that are more in demand and that are profitable.”
The connections from Antwerp to Aberdeen, Birmingham, Cologne-Bonn, Maribor, Munich and Rostock will be stopped in the coming weeks and planned routes from Antwerp and Ostend-Bruges to Manchester will be postponed.
Maertens also said the airline will implement a fleet reduction, adding: “It is no secret that we are preparing the replacement of the Fokker 50 aircraft for some time now. The expected commissioning of the new aircraft is planned for the second half of 2019.”
Written by: Kimberley Young
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