Monarch Airlines, simply known as Monarch, was a British charter and scheduled airline founded by Bill Hodgson and Don Peacock and financed by the Swiss Sergio Mantegazza family. The company later became a low-cost airline[3][4] in 2004 before abandoning charter flying completely. The airline's headquarters were based at London–Luton, and it had operating bases at Birmingham, Leeds/Bradford, London–Gatwick and Manchester.
When Monarch entered administration in 2017, it was the biggest airline collapse in UK history up to that point, leaving nearly 100,000 passengers and holidaymakers stranded.[5] However, on 23 September 2019, Thomas Cook also collapsed, leaving 150,000 people stranded, and went on to become the largest UK airline ever to collapse.[6] The airline held a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Type A Operating Licence. This licence allowed Monarch to carry passengers, cargo, and mail on aircraft with 20 or more seats.[7][8]
History
1960s
On 5 June 1967, Monarch Airlines was established by a pair of British businessmen, Bill Hodgson and Don Peacock, both of whom had previously been directors at the airline British Eagle.[9] Unlike typical airlines at the time, Monarch was founded with the express intent of conveying British holidaymakers to tourism hotspots and desirable getaway destinations throughout Europe. Particularly at a time when air travel was traditionally feasible only to the rich, Monarch took another unusual step. The airline's ambition was to promote the service towards the demands and needs of the average family, rather than it being marketed solely for wealthier clients.[9]
The business was operated as a subsidiary of Globus Getaway Holdings and received financial backing from the Swiss Sergio Mantegazza family.[10][11] At the time of Monarch's inception, the Mantegazza family were the owners of UK-based
Cabin and services
As Monarch positioned itself as a low-cost carrier, the airline offered several services for an optional extra fee. This included options such as hold luggage, increased luggage allowance, allocated seating, priority services and in-flight catering.[93]
Cabin
Monarch's aircraft operated in an all-economy layout. Several extra space seats were located towards the front of the cabin and adjacent to exit doors.
In-flight entertainment
Monarch provided an in-flight magazine named Passport.[94] Its contents included travel guides, a map of Monarch's destinations, interviews and company news.
In-flight catering and retail
Monarch offered food and drink available to purchase on board all flights. The menu included a range of hot and cold food items as well as hot and cold drinks, alcoholic beverages and soft drinks.
A range of onboard tax-free/duty-free goods was available to purchase from the Love to Shop inflight magazine.[95]
Corporate affairs
At the time of closure Monarch's head office, along with that of Monarch Group, was in Prospect House, on the grounds of London Luton Airport.[97][98]
Ownership and structure
Monarch Airlines was part of the Monarch Group, of which the holding company was Monarch Holdings Ltd., which is 90% owned by Greybull Capital. The group's pension fund holds the remaining 10%.[72]
Other subsidiaries of the Monarch Group include Monarch Holidays (previously branded as Cosmos Holidays, but reverted to Globus in 2017), Monarch Hotels, Avro Flights,[99] and Monarch Aircraft Engineering Limited (MAEL).
Fleet
Fleet at closure
At the time of closure, the Monarch Airlines fleet consisted of the following aircraft:
Historical fleet
Monarch had operated the following aircraft in its history:
Awards
- FlightOnTime.info Most Improved UK Charter Airline for Punctuality – Summer 2007[109]
- Travel Trade Gazette Airline of the Year – Leisure 2006 and 2007[110]
- TravelWeekly Globe Travel Awards – Best Charter Airline 2009,[111] 2010[112] and 2011[113]
- World's greenest airline ITB Berlin travel show – The number 1 greenest airline 2011[114]
Accidents and incidents
- On 14 January 1985, a Boeing 757, registration G-MOND, flying Monarch Flight 390 from Tenerife to Luton suffered two mid-flight explosions. Soon after, the aircraft lost electrical power, and smoke began filling the cabin, leading to an emergency landing in Portugal. The cause was leaking lavatory fluid which had come into contact with electrical wiring, resulting in severe electrical arcing. This event created smoke and power surges and caused the aircraft's electronic flight interfaces to fail and blank out. It was the first known British-operated aircraft to suffer a severe Kapton-related problem.[116]
- On 22 May 2002, a Boeing 757-200, registration G-MONC, suffered structural damage to the forward fuselage in the area of the nose landing gear during landing at Gibraltar Airport while operating a flight from Luton. The captain had used an incorrect landing technique, applying full nose-down elevator. This control input resulted in a high pitch-down rate at nosewheel touchdown, exceeding the design limits, before the aircraft's nosewheel had touched the ground. No fatalities occurred.[117]
- On 17 March 2006, the flight deck crew of a Boeing 757-200, registration G-MONE, lost visual contact with the runway
See also
External links
References
- IATA - Airline and Airport Code Search iata.org, retrieved 13 April 2015^
- Monarch Airlines has ceased trading CAA, Civil Aviation Authority, retrieved 2 October 2017^
- "Monarch Airlines Profile.". CAPA. Retrieved on 14 October 2017.^