The London City Link
VLM MD Johan Vanneste and Liverpool John Lennon Airport MD Neil Pakey alongside a VLM Fokker 50
Sadly, the VLM service to London City ceased on the 1st July 2007, but we leave this report here to mark the long-running campaign that resulted in a service that lasted three and a half years. Here's hoping that another link to our capital may be established in the future by easyJet or Ryanar or...
The announcement on 3rd December 2003 that VLM Airlines was to commence a five-times daily service between Liverpool John Lennon Airport and London City came at the end of a long campaign to restore a link to the capital - an extremely important route for an airport and a city with a very bright future ahead of it and a route that the people of Merseyside deserve. The new service was warmly welcomed by local business communities on Merseyside, who now had a realistic alternative to a mediocre train operation or an inconvenient drive to Manchester.
VLM Airlines Managing Director, Johan Vanneste said at the time: "We have been impressed with the campaigns mounted by the community and media - clearly the whole community is committed to using an air link that brings the heart of London closer to Merseyside. We look forward to building on that partnership". When the high-frequency return flights commenced on 23rd February, the new route provided the swift and convenient access to the capital that the people of Merseyside had been demanding for years.
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Above Left: Liverpool John Lennon Airport MD Neil Pakey and VLM MD Johan Vanneste sign the deal that would bring five flights per day between Liverpool and London City Airport. Attending the press call were, left to right, Ray Morris (Chairman - Merseyside Partnership), Neil Pakey, Johan Vanneste, Titus Johnson (UK Regional Manager VLM), Richard Gooding (Managing Director, London City Airport) and Steven Broomhead (Chief Executive, North West Development Agency).
Following the signing, there was an opportunity to view a VLM Fokker 50 at close-quarters. The aircraft had been specially brought to Liverpool for the occasion. A Fokker 50 was based at Liverpool to operate the service.
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Above left - A view down towards the rear of the cabin, clearly showing the comfortable 32" pitch leather seating. Above right - Your airline seat to London City awaits...!