Monarch Airlines

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Monarch Airlines
IATA
ZB		 ICAO
MON		 Callsign
MONARCH
Founded 1967
Hubs Manchester Airport
London Luton Airport
London Gatwick Airport
Birmingham International Airport
Frequent flyer program Vantage Club
Fleet size 32
Destinations over 100 worldwide (17 scheduled)
Company slogan The low fare airline that cares
Headquarters Luton, United Kingdom
Key people Bill Hodgson, Don Peacock, Alan Snudden, CBE, Peter Brown, Tim Jeans
Website: www.monarch.co.uk
Boeing 757-200 in the old livery, Alicante Airport, Spain
Boeing 757-200 in the old livery, Alicante Airport, Spain
Airbus A320 at Glasgow International Airport, Scotland
Airbus A320 at Glasgow International Airport, Scotland
Airbus A330 at Glasgow International Airport, Scotland
Airbus A330 at Glasgow International Airport, Scotland

Monarch Airlines is a British charter and scheduled airline based in Luton, England. It is one of the United Kingdom's largest charter airlines, operating to Europe, the United States, the Caribbean, India and Africa, serving mainly leisure destinations. It also operates scheduled flights to many Mediterranean destinations, the Canary Islands and Cyprus. Luton is Monarch's main base as well as the location of its headquarters. London Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham are the airline's other main operational bases.[1]

Monarch Airlines is a subsidiary of the Monarch Travel Group. Monarch Travel Group's other subsidiaries include Monarch's maintenance arm Monarch Aircraft Engineering, package tour operator Cosmos Holidays, seat-only operator Avro, direct-sell operator Archers and accommodation only website somewhere2stay.com.[2]

The company holds a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority Type A Operating Licence, permitting it to carry passengers, cargo and mail on aircraft with 20 or more seats.[3]

Contents

[edit] History

Monarch Airlines was formed on 5 June 1967 by Bill Hodgson and Don Peacock with financial backing from the Swiss Albek and Mantegazza families, as a subsidiary of Globus Gateway Holdings.[4] (The Albek and Mantegazza families still own the airline as of late 2007[2])

Monarch commenced commercial airline operations on April 5, 1968 with a charter flight from Luton to Madrid using a Bristol Britannia 175 turboprop.[5][6] The airline's initial fleet comprised two Bristol Britannias.

In 1969, Monarch's second year of operation, the company's six Britannias carried 250,000 passengers within a 12-month period for the first time.[1]

Monarch entered the jet age in 1971 when three Boeing 720Bs, which it had acquired second-hand from Northwest Airlines for US$ 1 m each, joined its fleet.[7] The airline's first commercial jet service took to the air on December 13, 1971. [2] The introduction of the company's first jet aircraft type also coincided with the adoption of a revised livery.

In 1972 the firm carried 500,000 passengers in one year for the first time.[3]

By 1976 Monarch had transitioned to an all-jet fleet following the retirement of the last of the airline's remaining Britannias.[8] (This aircraft was the last passenger-configured Britannia in UK commercial airline service.[8]). This was achieved through the acquisition of a further two, second-hand Boeing 720Bs as well as the addition of a pair of BAC One-Eleven 500s, which had been sourced from British Caledonian and the receivers of the failed Court Line, respectively.[9][10] [8]

In 1979 Alan Snudden, CBE, took over as Monarch Airlines' managing director. (Alan Snudden joined Monarch from Dan-Air, where he had held the same position.)[11][12]

Under Allan Snudden's stewardship, Monarch Airlines acquired its first brand-new aircraft and eventually transitioned to an all-new, state-of-the-art jet fleet.[13]

At the end of 1980 Monarch Airlines took delivery of its first newly built jet aircraft, a pair of Boeing 737-200 "Advanced", which had been acquired on an operating lease from Bavaria Leasing (at the time a unit of Hapag Lloyd Airlines).[14][13] (One of the newly delivered 737s was stationed at Tegel Airport in what used to be West Berlin in the days prior to Germany's [re-]unification for the duration of the 1981 summer season.[14] During that period the Berlin-based aircraft operated short- to medium haul charter flights to the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands under contract to Flug Union Berlin, at the time one of West Berlin's leading package tour operators. [Monarch had taken over Flug Union Berlin's charter programme from Laker Airways.][15]) The addition of the new 737s expanded Monarch's fleet to eleven jet aircraft, comprising one Boeing 707-320C, five Boeing 720Bs, three BAC One-Eleven 500s and two Boeing 737-200 "Advs".[13]

In 1981 new stations were opened at London Gatwick, Glasgow, Manchester and Berlin Tegel.[4][15] 1981 was also the first time Monarch Airlines carried a million passengers in a single year, as well as the first time the airline became a launch customer for a brand-new, state-of-the-art aircraft, as a result of placing an order directly with Boeing for four 757-200 high-capacity, medium-haul planes powered by new technology Rolls-Royce RB211-535C engines. This order made Monarch Airlines the first charter airline in the UK as well as the rest of Europe to order the Boeing 757. [5] It also represented a major step change for a small airline.[16] Monarch's first 757 was delivered and entered commercial airline service during the spring of 1983.[16] This coincided with the introduction of an updated livery, the third in the airline's history.

During the spring of 1985 the CAA awarded Monarch Airlines licences to begin scheduled services to Málaga, Minorca and Tenerife. This enabled the airline to launch its first-ever scheduled service from Luton to Minorca on July 5, 1986, under the brand name Monarch Crown Service.[6]

1986 saw the acquisition of Monarch's first Boeing 737-300 aircraft. (From November 1988 four of Monarch's 737-300s were leased out to EuroBerlin France, a Berlin Tegel based Franco-German joint venture airline that was 51% owned by Air France and 49% by Lufthansa.[17][18] Apart from the aircraft itself, Monarch Airlines also provided the flightdeck crew and maintenance support [through sister company Monarch Aircraft Engineering] for this airline. By 1990 seven 737-300s were assigned to the EuroBerlin wet lease.[19][20])

1988 was the first time Monarch Airlines carried more than two million passengers in a year.[7]

In 1990 Monarch Airlines introduced the Airbus A300-600R, its first widebodied aircraft type, into its fleet and opened a new purpose-built headquarters that also housed the airline's own Boeing 757 flight simulator at its Luton base.[19][8]

During the early 1990s Monarch Airlines operated several Boeing 767-300ER widebodies on behalf of Alitalia Team, a unit of Italy's flag carrier, under a wet lease arrangement similar to the one Monarch had with EuroBerlin France.[21]

During the mid 1990s Monarch Airlines introduced the first Airbus A320 family aircraft into its fleet. These eventually replaced the airline's 737-300s.[22][23]

In 1998 Monarch Airlines leased two McDonnell Douglas MD-11 widebodied aircraft from World Airways for its long-haul operations whilst awaiting the delivery of a pair of new Airbus A330-200 widebodies. Following the A330s' arrival in 1999, Monarch returned the MD-11s to World Airways.[24][9] The new A330 widebodies permitted Monarch to serve long-haul charter destinations with a two-class seating configuration, another first for the airline.[10]

In 2000 Monarch launched its website flymonarch.com (now monarch.co.uk).[11]

The only McDonnell Douglas DC-10 (a series 30 aircraft) in the airline's fleet was retired from service in 2002 and the aircraft's front section donated to Manchester Airport Aviation Viewing Park. In 2002 Monarch also unveiled a new livery - the airline's fourth, and the company re-branded its Monarch Crown Service scheduled division as Monarch Scheduled.[12] Monarch Scheduled continued to offer a full service product, including complimentary catering, bar service, hot towels, newspapers and in-flight entertainment. Following the success of the low-fares, no frills airlines such as easyJet, in 2004 Monarch's management decided to adopt a modified low-cost model featuring additional charges for food and drink as well as seat selection and in-flight entertainment. (As of November 2007, Monarch Airlines is charging passengers for each piece of checked-in baggage on all of their scheduled services, in line with other low-cost airlines. [If booked in advance on the Monarch website, the charge is £3.99/€5.99 per one-way flight. Bookings via the airline's call centre incur an £8/€12 charge and at the airport, if not already paid, passengers are charged an even higher rate of £10/€16 for each bag checked in. The hold baggage allowance is 20kg. However, passengers still enjoy a hand baggage allowance of 10kg each on all Monarch scheduled services.])

In 2005 Monarch leased a Boeing 767-300ER, formerly operated by MyTravel Airways, to expand its long-haul fleet, following its inability to source additional A330s on the global aircraft market due to the growing scarcity of Airbus's highly popular widebodied airliner.

In November 2005 Monarch added scheduled services from Aberdeen, Newquay and Blackpool to Málaga. However, the Newquay service was discontinued in 2006, following the introduction of an airport development charge that required all departing passengers to pay £5 to the airport authority. Scheduled services from Blackpool to Málaga were dropped as well.

During the aforementioned period Monarch also added an Airbus A321 acquired from bmi to its fleet. This aircraft has been based at Manchester and has been used on scheduled services from the airport. Monarch's continuously expanding scheduled presence at Manchester over the past few years has made it the airport's second-largest passenger airline (1.72 million in 2005).[25]. As per CAA statistics, Monarch's total passenger numbers have increased from 4.54 million in 2002 to 5.35 million in 2005. (As of late 2007, the company's web site states that the airline carries more than six million passengers to over 100 destinations worldwide.)

In August 2006 Monarch ordered six new generation Boeing 787-8 "Dreamliner" widebodied jets, primarily for use on long-haul routes. Delivery was originally planned to commence in 2010, however delays to the 787 project mean the aircraft will not start be delivered to the airline until 2011 at the earliest. [26] These aircraft will form the airline's future core long-haul fleet, replacing the company's existing mixed medium- to long-haul fleet comprising Airbus A300s and Airbus A330s as well as Boeing 767s.

Following Monarch's recent £900 million Boeing 787 "Dreamliner" order, board member Peter Brown told travel industry publication Travel Trade Gazette that the airline's latest order for brand-new aircraft was in fact placed by the Mantegazzas themselves, who were going to lease the aircraft to Monarch at market rates.[2]

Monarch's managing director Tim Jeans revealed in an interview to Travel Trade Gazette that the airline's recently ordered 787 "Dreamliners" were likely to be used to launch a range of new, transatlantic low-fare scheduled services to the US, in addition to operating the company's long-haul charter flights. Tim Jeans also revealed that his firm's envisaged transatlantic scheduled services would feature a premium cabin as well, and that its 787s were likely to be operated in a 320-seat configuration featuring a 33-inch pitch in economy class, which is up to two inches more than British Airways' and Virgin Atlantic's economy seat pitch (as of late 2007).[27]

In 2007 Monarch Airlines has been voted Leisure Airline of the Year at the annual Travel Trade Gazette Awards, the second consecutive year the airline has won this accolade.

On April 27, 2007 Monarch Airlines started flights to Ibiza partnered with popular club brand HedKandi, naming the partnership "FlyKandi". One of Monarch's Boeing 757s (registration G-MOND) received a special FlyKandi livery with billboard FlyKandi titles and a special tail paint. The HedKandi partnership lasted for the duration of the 2007 summer season, with flights to Ibiza being sold from four major UK airports. It was then renewed again for the 2008 summer season, offering the same services. A different Boeing 757 (registration G-MONJ) has been painted in a new FlyKandi livery and Monarch will use this as its partnership aircraft. HedKandi CDs and radio stations will be available for purchase and to listen to on-board Monarch aircraft as well.

Airbus A321-200 taxiing at Birmingham International Airport
Airbus A321-200 taxiing at Birmingham International Airport
Airbus A300B4-605R at Manchester Airport
Airbus A300B4-605R at Manchester Airport

As of late 2007, Monarch Airlines is the only survivor among the UK's prominent Independent airlines of the 1960s, '70s, '80s and early '90s that still uses its original name. [28]

[edit] Monarch Airlines destinations

Main article: Monarch Airlines destinations

[edit] Fleet

As of April 2008, the Monarch Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft [29]:

In December 2007 Monarch announced that two Boeing 757-200s (G-MONB and G-MONE) were to be withdrawn from service due to the aircraft's advanced age and they will be replaced with Airbus A321s. In line with this announcement, it seems Monarch are to begin phasing out their 757s as it was revealed that G-MONC and G-MOND were to be put up for disposal pending the acquisition of replacement aircraft, most likely to be yet more Airbus A321s.

As of April 2008, Monarch Airlines' average fleet age was 12.8 years. [30]

[edit] Aircraft orders

  • 6 Boeing 787-8 for delivery from 2011 until 2013, with purchase rights held for a further 8 787-8s. [31]
  • 1 Airbus A321 expected to be added to the fleet in August 2008.

[edit] Former aircraft types operated

[edit] Awards

[edit] Incidents and accidents

  • On March 17, 2006 the flightdeck crew of Boeing 757-200 G-MONE lost visual contact with the runway after passing the Visual Decision Point (VDP) while attempting to land at Gibraltar Airport. During the subsequent go-around, the crew did not follow the correct missed approach procedures but ATC provided effective heading control to avoid striking high ground. The lowest altitude of the aircraft when over land was 2,100 ft. (The highest point over land, just south of the airfield, is 1,420 ft.) Following the incident, ATC and Monarch Airlines changed their procedures to reduce the chances of repeating a similar occurrence.[33]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ "Directory: World Airlines", Flight International, 2007-04-10, p. 52. 
  2. ^ a b c http://www.ttglive.com/NArticleDetails.asp?aid=6831 Brown Eager to See Monarch Reigning Travel Trade Gazette Archive issue date: February 16, 2007
  3. ^ Operating licence
  4. ^ "World Airline Directory 1968", Flight International, March 1968. 
  5. ^ http://www.flymonarch.com/cnt/news/index.asp?hdlId=1184 Flying the nation for 40 years! Were you one of our first passengers? www.flymonarch.com/cnt/news 03/03/2008
  6. ^ "World Airline Directory 1969", Flight International, March 1969. 
  7. ^ "World Airline Directory 1972", Flight International, March 1972. 
  8. ^ a b c "World Airline Directory 1977", Flight International, March 1977. 
  9. ^ "World Airline Directory 1975", Flight International, March 1975. 
  10. ^ "World Airline Directory 1976", Flight International, March 1976. 
  11. ^ The Spirit of Dan-Air, Simons, G.M., GMS Enterprises, Peterborough, 1993, pp. 173/4
  12. ^ It was nice to fly with friends! The story of Air Europe., Simons, G.A., GMS Enterprises, Peterborough, 1999, pp. 9/10
  13. ^ a b c "World Airline Directory 1981", Flight International, March 1981. 
  14. ^ a b New operators for Boeing 737, Flight International, 18 October 1980, p. 1493
  15. ^ a b Berlin Airport Company, April 1981 Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, 1981
  16. ^ a b "World Airline Directory 1983", Flight International, March 1983. 
  17. ^ "World Airline Directory 1989", Flight International, March 1989. 
  18. ^ Berlin Airport Company, November 1988 Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, 1988
  19. ^ a b "World Airline Directory 1990", Flight International, March 1990. 
  20. ^ Berlin Airport Company, November 1989 Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, 1989
  21. ^ "World Airline Directory 1992", Flight International, March 1992. 
  22. ^ "World Airline Directory 1994", Flight International, March 1994. 
  23. ^ "World Airline Directory 1995", Flight International, March 1995. 
  24. ^ "World Airline Directory 1999", Flight International, March 1999. 
  25. ^ "Traffic Statistics Report 2005", Manchester Airport Plc, June 2006, pp. 11, 16. Retrieved on 2006-10-06. 
  26. ^ Monarch expects first 787 Dreamliner by 2011
  27. ^ http://www.ttglive.com/NArticleDetails.asp?aid=7818 Monarch Boss Bets on UK-US Service by 2010 Travel Trade Gazette Archive issue date: June 22, 2007
  28. ^ Monarch Airlines > About Us > History
  29. ^ Civil Aviation Authority Aircraft Register
  30. ^ Fleet age
  31. ^ Flight International, 3-9 October 2006
  32. ^ Boeing 757-200, G-MONC. UK AAIB. Retrieved on 2007-07-25.
  33. ^ Boeing 757-200, G-MONE. UK AAIB. Retrieved on 2007-07-25.

[edit] References

  • British Independent Airlines since 1946, Volume 3 of 4. A.C.Merton Jones. Merseyside Aviation Society & LAAS. Liverpool, 1976. ISBN 0-902420-09-7.
  • Berlin Airport Company - Monthly Timetable Booklets for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, April and October issues (German language edition only), 1981. Berlin Airport Company. 
  • "Flight International" . Reed Business Information. ISSN 0015-3710.  (various backdated issues relating to Monarch Airlines, 1968-2007)
  • Simons, Graham M. (1993). The Spirit of Dan-Air. GMS Enterprises. ISBN 1-8703-8420-2. 
  • Simons, Graham M. (1999). It was nice to fly with friends! The story of Air Europe. GMS Enterprises. ISBN 1-8703-8469-5. 

[edit] External links

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Airlines of the United Kingdom
Civil Air Ensign of the United Kingdom