The route between Cologne and Rostock is a quite traditional connection from Rhineland to the Baltic Sea – which has proven in the past not to be profitable for other airlines like Eurowings. Since summer 2018, Belgian regional airways VLM significantly expanded their network and, amongst others, offered that connection. While the key focus was to connect the two German cities, the Fokker 50s need to connect VLM homebase Antwerp and Cologne first, so that you in fact have two legs, Antwerp-Cologne and Cologne-Rostock (and vice versa). In August 2018 I tested the short hop from Cologne to Antwerp – here is a review.
If you want to do this experience as well, you need to hurry up, the route has proven to be non-profitable for VLM as well. It terminates mid September (see below).
Update: on August 31, 2018, VLM declared immediate closure of their network and liquidation. Another amazing story of aviation has ended.
VLM – History, Fleet and Network
Currently, VLM operates with six Fokker 50 planes. In addition, there is an Airbus A320, which is chartered to another airline. Hub and homebase is Antwerp, Belgium. VLM started its operations in 2017, after a predecessor company went bankrupt the year before.
In April 2018, VLM released a quite nice European flight network plan with Antwerp connections. Like the Antwerp-Cologne-Rostock route, the Maribor connection includes a stopover in Munich.
Unfortunately, only two routes turned out to be profitable, the connection to London CIty and the one to Zurich. All other routes will be closed down in September 2018 or have been closed down already (Birmingham). Furthermore, VLM wants to switch from Fokker 50 to another aircraft, which has not yet been announced. In addition, VLM will more concentrate on charter flights.
Pricing for the flights is and was very reasonable: tickets between Cologne and Rostock, for example, started at 59 EUR, like most of the routes. My ticket to Antwerp was even part of a sale and about 40 EUR. The ticket price generally includes a 20kg piece of hold luggage.
VLM – Airport Experience in Cologne
The check-in counter opened 90 minutes before the scheduled departure time of 16:35. I have been a bit ahead of time for that. Check-in was very nice and professional. It turned out to be that only two passengers will check-in in Cologne for that route, leading to a total of three pax to Antwerp with one person coming from Rostock already. The other legs of the route from Antwerp to Cologne and Rostock and between Rostock and Cologne were booked with roughly 25 people – which is a much more reasonable headcount, but likely still below what you need to make it profitable. The other passenger turned out to be a person like me, just doing the flight for the sake of having done it, aka aviation nerd. The boarding staff was really nice and told us that they love to do the small carriers and are sad that the route will be closed. We were brought to the plane by a CAS ground handling eight-seater bus, which felt close to a limousine service.
VLM – In-Flight Experience
The welcome by flight attendant Charlotte was very friendly and welcoming. The pilots asked us to sit in the back for better trimming, which was still very comfortable. The Fokker 50, built in 1991 and thus even having ashtrays in the armrests – a nicely-configured plane with plushy seats. The seat pitch was nice as well, so that I felt very comfortable. Take of and landing was a bit bumpy, but the flight itself was very nice. There were some good views around Cologne and Antwerp. The service was very charming and attentive – there were some small cakes and nacho chips to eat and a can of drinks for everyone. Overall, it was a great experience in a forty minute flight.
VLM – Arriving in Antwerp Airport
As expected, the Antwerp airport terminal building is relatively small. Most shops have already been closed at arrival. The ground staff welcomed us and was very nice as well, making it a really perfect flight experience. My luggage arrived at the belt after some minutes. The airport is quite nice and functional and looks clean and modern – only the landside toilets were really run down.
Unfortunately, the connection from Antwerp Airport to city center was the only really negative part, not part of the VLM responsibility. The airport offers a “City Shuttle” for 5 EUR to city center. it is likely some sort of shared service, as the airport information told me it does not work when few people are around. Thus, the empty taxis had to go back to city center – even worse! Busses are operating every 15 minutes bringing you to a tram and train hub station. Due to roadworks and delays, however, I waited some 30 minutes to catch one.
VLM – My View
VLM illustrates the problem of many small airlines: I feel they delivery a great cabin product and the price is absolutely fine. It should be possible for them to sell sufficient tickets on a 50-seater Fokker 50 for four times a week between Cologne and Rostock (the Cologne-Antwerp route will be loss-making, but that is likely how was likely part of the business plan anyway). In order to do this, you just need good marketing – too few people know about this service. Maybe, announcing a route in April is also maybe too late to get the funds of beach-addicted summer holiday tourists. I am very thankful for this experience – a nice flight with an amazing flight attendant was definitely one of the top regional flight experiences I had.
Aviation on Flyctory.com
Here are all postings about Airports & Airlines:

Dubrovnik Airport (DBV)
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Open Sky Lounge Dusseldorf Airport (DUS)
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Food I Had Onboard VIII (April 2023 til Mid-May 2023)
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Flying Contour Airlines Embraer E135
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Primeclass Lounge Zagreb Airport (ZAG)
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Thumb Up or Down? A Personal View on my Loyalty Program Portfolio
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Food I Had Onboard VII (mid-February 2023 til March 2023)
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Nice Upgrades to Manchester Airport (MAN) Terminal 2 (Pictured Story)
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American Airlines / British Airways Soho Lounge New York JFK Terminal 8
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Food I Had Onboard VI (December 2022 til mid-February 2023)
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Iberia Regional / Air Nostrum ATR 72 Business Class
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Aegean Lounge Larnaca Airport (LCA)
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Singapore Airlines A380 Premium Economy
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VIP Business Lounge Tirana Airport (TIA)
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Andorra La Seu d’Urgell (LEU) Airport
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Food I Had Onboard V (September 2022 til November 2022)
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Aspire Lounge Inverness Airport (INV)
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Tupelo Airport (TUP)
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The Lounge Cologne/Bonn Airport (CGN)
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Berlin Brandenburg Airport Terminal 1 (BER) – My First Review
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A Walk Through Cologne / Bonn Airport Terminal at Covid-19 Times (Pictured Story)
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Flying Dortmund Airport (DTM)
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Long Beach Airport (LGB)
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Flying Under Covid-19 conditions from Venice Airport (VCE)
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Tenerife North Airport (TFN) Review
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Überlingen Plane Collision Memorials
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Postings about Cologne
Here are all postings about my home town Cologne:


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 02 June 2023)
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Julian Taylor (15th February 2023, Cologne)
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Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 27 January 2023)
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Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 13 January 2023)
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Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 30 December 2022)
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Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 09 December 2022)
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Brett Young (19th November 2022, Cologne)
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Milky Chance (18th November 2022, Cologne)
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Spotlight – Flyctory.com meets Nik Wallner (November 2022)
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Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 04 November 2022)
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Alexander Ludwig (2nd November 2022, Cologne)
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Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 28 October 2022)
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Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 21 October 2022)
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Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 14 October 2022)
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Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 16 September 2022)
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Spotlight – Flyctory.com meets Lindsay Ell (before her Cologne Show in Aug 2022)
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Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 02 September 2022)
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Johnossi (12th June 2022, Cologne)
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Dan O’ Clock – Seelenhippie EP
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Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 27 May 2022)
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Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 25 March 2022)
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Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 11 March 2022)
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Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 18 Feb 2022)
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Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 21 Jan 2022)
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The Twelve Best Flights Of My Life (… so far)
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Luna Morgenstern – Taking The Blow EP
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Paul Weber – Alles im Arsch EP
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Durch & Durch – Nice Aber Nutzlos
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Songs Of My Life: Nino De Angelo – Jenseits von Eden
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Songs Of My Life: John Miles – Music
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Nino de Angelo – Gesegnet und Verflucht
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Cologne – My Ten Favorite Songs About My Home Town
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bett1HULKS Championship 2020: Sharan (IND) / Sandgren (USA) – Marach (AUT) / Pavic (CRO) 4-6 2-6
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bett1HULKS Championship: Egor Gerasimov (BLR) – Daniel Altmaier (GER) 6-1 6-0
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bett1HULKS Championship: Jordan Thompson (AUS) – Gilles Simon (FRA) 3-6 5-7
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bett1HULKS Championship 2020: Sumit Nagal (IND) – Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB) 6-3 (4)6-7 1-6
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bett1HULKS Indoors 2020: Hubert Hurkacz (POL) vs. Mischa Zverev (GER) 6-4 6-3
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bett1HULKS Indoors 2020: Davidovich Fokina / Verdasco (ESP) – Masur / Molleker (GER) 3-6 6-1 10-8
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bett1HULKS Indoors 2020: Gonzales (MEX) / K. Skupski (GBR) – Nielsen (DEN) / Puetz (GER) 4-6 6-1 10-5
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bett1HULKS Indoors 2020: Sharan (IND) / Withrow (USA) – Herbert / Mahut (FRA) 3-6 3-6
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Four Countries, Four Trains – A Trip on Tracks (Day 4, 10th August 2020)
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Marie Reim – 14 Phasen
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Björn Heuser (28th May 2020, Drive-In Show, Bonn)
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Mrs. Greenbird: Strong Crowdfunding Start for New Album
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Car Watch – A new Pop-up Drive-in Cinema in Cologne
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Brett Eldredge / Lauren Jenkins (24th January 2020, Cologne)
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Noah Guthrie (9th December 2019, Cologne)
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Cologne Cathedral / Roncalli Square Christmas Market
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Ben Zucker & Van De Forst (6th November 2019, Cologne)
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Willie Jones & Tyler Rich (29th October 2019, Cologne)
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Logan Mize (26th October 2019, Cologne)
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Scotty McCreery (24th October 2019, Cologne)
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Jillian Jacqueline & Lauren Jenkins (9th September 2019, Cologne)
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Wade Bowen (6th August 2019, Cologne)
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SV Menden – 1. FC Köln 3:5 (0:3) (31st July 2019)
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The Scherz-Tour – A Different RheinEnergieSTADION Cologne Tour
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Mrs. Greenbird – Dark Waters (Review)
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Very Important Postings – July to December 2018
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The Eau de Cologne Giants – 4711 vs. Farina
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SV Menden – 1. FC Köln 0:1 (0:1) (2018 pre-season)
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History of Gaming in Cologne’s City Museum
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Six Intercontinental Flight Weekend – Day 1 (Trip Report)
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Six Intercontental Flights in 72 Hours (Overview)
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Network graphics taken from flyvlm.com