28th May, 2009 – CityJet and VLM Airlines today 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 doing everything to get travellers to their destination as quickly as possible and hassle free, 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.
“Both airlines’ award-winning service and expertise are coming together to the benefit of business travellers who want to get to their destinations as quickly as possible and hassle free,” said Johan Vanneste, CityJet’s managing director for the London City network.
“We are focused on building on our position as the number one operator at London City Airport and have already started work on developing a unified brand that is perfectly linked to Air France’s other regional subsidiaries.”
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.
Features on the site will include access to all Air France-KLM Group e-services. These include e-check-in, e-ticketing and access to the Flying Blue frequent flyer programme, which VLM Encore will be merged into by September 2009.
CityJet recently commenced the only direct link from Nantes to London, with two return flights every weekday operated by a combined fleet of Fokker 50 and Avro RJ85 aircraft.
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About CityJet, Air France and VLM AirlinesIn December 2007, VLM Airlines was acquired by the Air France – KLM Group. VLM Airlines is now combining its operations with CityJet, another member of the Air France – KLM Group, to become the No. 1 choice for business travellers to and from the heart of London.
Their award-winning service is now available on over 600 flights a week between London City Airport and 16 UK and European destinations. The airlines currently offer flights from London City Airport to Amsterdam, Antwerp, Brussels, Dublin, Dundee, Edinburgh, Eindhoven, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Luxembourg, Nantes, Nice, Paris, Rotterdam and Strasbourg
Air France is part of the AIR FRANCE KLM Group and is a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance that provides customers with worldwide services.
CityJet is a 100% subsidiary of Air France, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. It was awarded the prestigious "Airline of the Year 2008/9" silver award by the European Regions Airline Association.
