Intro Aviation has concluded the deal to buy CityJet Group, including VLM Airlines

Antwerp, May 2nd, 2014 – On 30th April 2014, Intro Aviation took full ownership of CityJet Group, including VLM Airlines.

Germany-based Intro Aviation GmbH is a family-owned company and part of the Intro Group, which has over 40 years of aviation experience. In the past, Intro Aviation has brought several airlines, such as NFD (Nürnberger Flug Dienst, now part of Eurowings (LH)), dba (formerly Deutsche BA), Gexx and LTU (now integrated in Air Berlin), back to profitability with a minimum of restructuring, thanks to its experience in the industry including, sales and marketing, the cooperation with airports and aircraft manufacturers. VLM Airlines changed on acquisition by CityJet and the Air France KLM Group from being a full service scheduled airline to an ACMI carrier (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance & Insurance, i.e. wet lease). Over the past 2 years, the airline has also further developed its charter operations, with a 100% increase in charter revenues.

Hans Rudolf Wöhrl, founder and Chairman of Intro Group stated: “We intend to separate VLM from CityJet. As a result, VLM Airlines will become a direct Belgian independent subsidiary of our Irish holding company. In the future, VLM Airlines will be a substantial provider of ACMI and charter services with CityJet as one of its main customers. We look forward to working with the management and all its employees to write together a new success story!”

Arthur White, CEO of VLM Airlines said: “I’m very keen on developing VLM Airlines with our new shareholders. We are looking at repositioning the FlyVLM and VLM Airlines brands. In the near future, we will be focusing on new ACMI customers and the further development of the charter business. On a longer term, we are looking at expanding our charter flights operations.”

According to Arthur White, VLM Airlines used to be viewed as a Flemish regional airline, operating flights from it homebase at Antwerp Airport: “We are very much looking forward to re-establishing strong links with the Flemish Government, the City of Antwerp, the Antwerp Chamber of Commerce, Antwerp Airport and Egis, the new operator of the airport”.