Well, I wrote at 4:30am this morning, but Monarch Airways has filed for administration. The upshot is that all flights booked to operate with Monarch Airways metal are cancelled.
Monarch Airways Airbus A321 pushing back at Birmingham Airport – Image, Economy Class and Beyond.
Firstly, the passenger bits:
- If you are planning to fly on a Monarch Airways flight from the UK: Do NOT travel to the airport. There are no Monarch flights operating
- If you are abroad and booked with any of the below, you are fully covered under ATOL rules
- Monarch Airlines Ltd
- Monarch Holidays Ltd (ATOL Number 2275)
- First Aviation Ltd (ATOL Number 4888) previously trading as Monarch Airlines for flights booked before 16th December 2016
- Avro Ltd (ATOL Number 1939)
- If you booked with Somewhere2stay Ltd, this is not covered under ATOL.
- Flights booked on the Monarch Airways site after 16th December 2016 are not covered under the ATOL scheme. You will need to contact your credit card/debit card issuer to try to claim the money back
- Passengers returning to the UK between now and the 15th October will have alternative flights. See https://monarch.caa.co.uk/customers/i-am-currently-abroad/my-new-flight/
- Passengers returning on or after the 16th October may need to find their own way home
If you are abroad on a Monarch Airways holiday , please take the time to read and understand the contents of https://monarch.caa.co.uk/ – it is in your own interest at this juncture.
The BBC has published a list of your passenger rights – again – I’d urge you to read this
The CAA’s call centre for Monarch customers can be contacted as follows.
- Phoning from the UK (reduced rate): 0300 303 2800
- Phoning from overseas: +44 1753 330 330
In terms of numbers, it’s not pretty picture. Currently 110,000 passengers are abroad who flew on a Monarch package. Over 300,000 holidays were booked. Those that were ATOL protected will be refunded in due course.
Monarch’s fleet included 34 Airbus A320 family aircraft in its fleet, and one 737-800 leased from another company. Over 2,100 staff are also affected – who are now out of a livelihood. Thankfully, other airlines are in the position to help, with the majors opening recruitment to pick up staff where they can (I’ve seen recruitment from BMI Regional, British Airway and Virgin Atlantic to name a few).
Monarch Aircraft Engineering (the part that handles Maintenance) is now a separate company operating under its own supervisors. No staff are currently affected by today’s news.
At the time of the airline stopping flying Monarch Airways was the fifth largest carrier in the United Kingdom. The BBC looks at some of the factors against it, leading to its downfall.
This is a sorry situation – to say the least, with a lot of people affected and worried – both customers and staff.
We can but hope that something can be salvaged from this for all parties.
But as I stated before, do not make plans to fly with Monarch – the airline is grounded… and for now, unlikely to return to the skies.
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