VLM Airlines, the largest carrier serving London’s City Airport, has today announced that it will be breaking with the current trend in the airline industry and NOT introduce a fuel surcharge despite the fact that the airline’s fuel bill has risen sharply. The announcement comes at a time when most airlines including BA, SAS, and KLM have introduced surcharges due to the dramatic increase in the price of jet fuel. VLM Airlines’ emphasis on customer service combined with the use of fuel-efficient Fokker F-50 turboprop aircraft on all routes, means that the company is able to maintain its outlook for the year and remain profitable.

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Johan Vanneste, VLM Managing Director, comments, “We have been closely monitoring the development of jet fuel prices in recent weeks and while prices are almost double what they were for the same period in 2003, we do not expect the rise to continue. As a result, VLM Airlines would rather maintain the loyalty of an increasing number of passengers (a record breaking 11,000 a week this month!) than inflict a fuel surcharge to offset costs in the short term.”

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He continues, “In an increasingly competitive marketplace we are determined to keep offering the same excellent service at the same price. Since our foundation in 1993, VLM Airlines has never applied fuel surcharges and we certainly don’t intend doing so now.”
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