Dutch taxi company in VLM takeover bid
The Deurne-based VLM Airlines (Antwerp) went bankrupt last month and left a deficit of more than 6 million euros. The jobs of some 160 employees are at stake as curator Jan Loyens is trying to work out a solution as soon as possible.
Freddy Van Gaever, the Belgian businessman who founded the airline in 1992, was a candidate for a takeover at one stage, but threw in the towel. "It's difficult to judge how serious a takeover bid really is", Loyens told Gazet Van Antwerpen.
He confirmed there are several candidates. The latest is the Dutch taxi company Tinker, a transport firm that brings passengers from their home to an airport. "We started 3 years ago in the Netherlands, but have branches in Belgium and other countries in Europe", CEO Gerben Abbink told Gazet Van Antwerpen. Abbink aims to offer short-distance flights of "600 km maximum". He said he had presented "a detailed plan" to Loyens, and is now waiting for more information about the conditions of a takeover.