VLM Airlines Slovenia (VLM Airlines d.d), a subsidiary of SHS Aviation Slovenia which runs Maribor Edvard Rusjan Airport, has begun preparations for its planned launch later this year. The ambitious carrier, which aims to link Slovenia's second largest city with eleven destinations this year (Belgrade, Berlin, Hamburg, London, Podgorica, Split, Zurich, Xi'an, Chongqing and Nanchang) with a mix of Airbus A320, A330 and Fokker 50 aircraft, is in the process of acquiring a Slovenian Air Operator's Certificate (AOC). As a result, the start-up flew a Fokker 50 aircraft from Antwerp to Maribor from its sister company VLM Airlines in Belgium in order to fulfil necessary procedures required for it to be granted an AOC. The head of SHS Aviation, Pang Siu Yin, expects for a permit to be issued by Slovenian authorities swiftly. "After we receive an AOC license, we will start operations in one month", the company said.
The new operators of Maribor Airport will invest at least 300 million euros into the city, which will include the construction of a new passenger terminal at the airport and the lengthening of the runway. SHS foresees Maribor Airport handling 1.54 million passengers and 82.000 tonnes of cargo by 2022. This number is expected to grow to two million passengers and 160.000 tonnes of cargo by 2028. During 2017 alone, SHS anticipates for Maribor Airport to welcome some 400.000 travellers through its doors, which would be a record. Some 139 million euros will be invested into the airport, including the development of long haul flights, over the next five years.
Although many have questioned the nature of the project as the unrealistic targets set by the company, SHS is adamant its investment in both the airport and airline is part of a wider strategic project. "Maribor Airport, with good transportation links to Europe and Asia open sup a lot of opportunities for trade, tourism and investment in Slovenia. With our network partners in Europe and Asia, there are a lot of business opportunities for the opening of local enterprises in the tourism, food, real estate and services industries", SHS noted. The company plans to register up to six A320-200s and fifteen A330-200s in Slovenia. while the remaining seven F50s will remain in the Belgian registry.
Comments
Best regards;
Haplek
The other day they received their fifth aircraft, an A320, and so far they have either launched or announced the following destinations:
BRU-CDG-ZRH-STN-BHX-HER-CHQ-DUB-IKA-TLV-MAN.
About a month ago they started hiring A330 pilots and according to their plan they are supposed to receive another two aircraft before summer starts; most likely the 2 A330s.
All I am saying is that when it comes to the Chinese, anything is possible with them.
Why don't they get a Belgium AOC if they were based there for a while. Usually when someone goes out of their way to get something in business mean that something is up. Either they failed to get an AOC in Belgium or they really don't know what it involves. (Like many of these start ups from the region).
This ambitious project will require billions in my opinion to become a reality so if someone os happy to spend their money on it than go nuts!
(If I had the cash I would probably do something like this too but I would just keep the beautiful MD-11 flying for a few more years lol)
Only half a dozen more widebodies and a320s to go!!
On 13 May 2016, VLM Airlines filed for bankruptcy protection at a court in Antwerp after accumulating €6 million of debt. ... On 22 June 2016, People's Viennaline announced the cancellation of its ACMI contract with VLM without further notice, citing a lack of quality in the provided services, e.g. several delays and cancellations. Later on the same day, VLM Airlines declared bankruptcy. All flights were cancelled with immediate effect and all planes grounded. The airline's website was shut down a few hours later.
https://www.expats.cz/prague/article/weekly-czech-news/czech-republic-sees-record-number-of-tourists-in-2015/
By not advertizing itself enough. Numbers speak for themselves.
Also, the fact that Zadar flights failed only goes to show how much they care about them. I guess they are too busy getting XL Airways and National to fly to New York from ZAG. #priorities
Just the top 10
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_the_Czech_Republic
They have a minor impact though as their trips tend to be short, so only about 30 million overnight stays
http://www.e-unwto.org/doi/pdf/10.18111/9789284418145
Including the fact they are full of bullshit
The second major area of interest for the Chinese is sex tourism, of which Thailand is a beneficiary.
That is correct. You are wrong about a decade of leasing contracts, some are about to expire shortly. Adria Tehnika has nothing to do with AA, it's a separate company. Apparently, the Russians are willing to go to great lengths to sell the SSJ100 to the western world - they are offering great deals.
Of course, ZAG and LJU might be affected thus some traffic might be stolen.
On the other hand, competition in ex-YU will further increase. Soon, the capitals will no longer serve as hubs.
FR will already begin operations to Ukraine next autumn.
There was 115.000 Chinese tourists in Croatia in 2015, and number is increasing more than 50% comparing to 2014. In Zagreb there was 30.000 Chinese tourists (+38% comparing to 2014).
So god bless you with information that Croatia is not working hard to promote itself in China.
https://tangosix.rs/2017/07/03/je-li-projekt-shs-aerodroma-maribor-bajka-ili-svjetski-vizionarski-presedan/
Greetings from LJU
DBV-VIE OS A321! Let's hope for a strong March over here.
http://www.mint.hr/UserDocsImages/170214_t-promet_XII.pdf
http://www.b92.net/biz/vesti/srbija.php?yyyy=2017&mm=03&dd=30&nav_id=1245433
And 55% increase is product of this.
http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2017&mm=03&dd=30&nav_category=11&nav_id=1245405