Monarch Airlines

[User0001]

Thomson are in Leeds. Based aircraft this summer and on sale again for S14

 

[imagineif]

What's occurring with the ZB7593 today as it seems to be popping into Faro on the way back and was expected to do so? :s_dunno

 

[lbaspotter]

What's occurring with the ZB7593 today as it seems to be popping into Faro on the way back and was expected to do so? :s_dunno

Most likely the weather has effected it due to the nature off Arrecife Airport. It could also be possibly due to strong head winds on the way back up.
I would suspect though the aircraft is too heavy to take-off with a full load of pax, baggage and fuel for 4.5 hours flying to Leeds, hence it requires a fuel stop in Faro.

It happens quite a lot at this time of the year and think Jet2 have had the same problems in the past operating with the Boeing 737-300's..

 

[imagineif]

Ye that did cross my mind but really?? I know the 737-300 usually cant make it but did not think it would be a problem for the A320. Interesting...

 

[lbaspotter]

Ye that did cross my mind but really?? I know the 737-300 usually cant make it but did not think it would be a problem for the A320. Interesting...

Well I know it has happened before with Monarch's Airbus A320's. Last year my Brother and his wife were flying home with them from Arrecife to East Midlands and that flight definitely had to stop off at Faro for a splash and dash of fuel.

I've got to admit I thought the Sharklets on the 2x Leeds based A320's might have improved the aircraft take-off performance from ACE, But it doesn't seem that way.

 

[imagineif]

I know there is some high ground and when departing 03 a turn out to sea is required but not on the scale of st. maarten lol. I also noticed Monarch upped capacity to 180 on their A320's in line with other charter operators, previously 174Y was the config from memory.

Oh well, 2 take off & landings for the price of 1 lol.. sure somebody will write a letter moaning.

Looks like they are hoping to get in just an hour or so behind schedule but lets see ...

 

[channex 757]

Some times the flights that haven't got as good performance or aren't able to achieve the terrain clearance in case of EFATO use runway 21 instead as they climb over the sea, so no obstacle clearance is required. However with the wind today in Lanzarote from the north at 17kts, this option would of been un available

 

[lbia]

Wow, for all the stick Jet2 has got on this forum in the last for using 'unsuitable' aircraft on the routes to the canaries during the winter... It's nice to see a brand new wingletted A320 also has to make a fuel stop, and it's not just the poor airline management decision to fly totally incapable aircraft (as stated to many times - Jet2 must have pissed off so many customers.. Etc etc) but actually a weather related restriction.

Perhaps some of the regular whiners will now actually understand that Arrecife IS a performance restricted airport and it's not just airlines (Jet2) being pikey and putting a 737 on the route. Perhaps a U turn for some on here, with Jet2 using 757's for the whole winter apart from a few weeks with the 737-800 mid Jan - maybe a regular Monarch tech stop this year when the winds are strong.

 

[a300boy]

We all love Jet 2 dont we ? They have turned Leeds airport into what it is and flourished elsewhere too. I just hope we hang on to them as long as possible before big bad Manchester offers them a deal they cant refuse.

 

[Bigman]

I thought they already had a300boy. That's why they already have a substantial base over there.

 

[a300boy]

I am sure you understand my insinuation Bigman.

 

[imagineif]

Well it got in barely an hour late so no drama and I think that was the only time it did do it this year?

I was still surprised, putting aside ACE operational limitations etc that it would be an issue for what is a new toy for Monarch. I guess airlines have to make that educated decision come gamble that 9 times out of 10 its not going to be a problem and the A320 will not need to pit stop.

I do think there is a subtle difference between that and the likes of say the 733 operating it, does anybody recall the fun with Astraeus when they would send a 733 to Larnaca and it never returned lol, almost every week. It would "fuel stop" in LGW on the way back only for crew to be out of hours and passengers kicked off on to a coach lol. Now that was a bad call and one they made week after week until a 700 series was available. Not the best end to your holiday!

:tease:

 

[lbaspotter]

Monarch Airlines full summer 2014 programme from Leeds/Bradford is on sale and currently fits 2x based aircraft. The 2x weekly Rome service looks to have been dropped I guess due to been in competition against Jet2.

The good news is that there are extra flights added. The Palma route increases from 4x weekly to 5x weekly while the Barcelona route increases from 2x weekly to 4x weekly even though its up against both Jet2 and Ryanair. It also looks like the Bodrum route will operate all summer instead of just part season like it did this year.

Monday
AC1
LBA 07:05 MAH 10:45 / MAH 11:45 LBA 13:25 = ZB7584/7585
LBA 14:30 BJV 20:45 / BJV 21:45 LBA 00:15* = ZB7536/7537
AC2
LBA 07:30 BCN 10:50 / BCN 11:40 LBA 13:15 = ZB7554/7555
LBA 14:20 ACE 18:40 / ACE 19:40 LBA 23:50 = ZB7592/7593
Tuesday
AC1
LBA 06:50 PMI 10:30 / PMI 11:30 LBA 13:20 = ZB7516/7517
LBA 14:20 DLM 20:35 / DLM 21:35 LBA 00:10* = ZB7534/7535
AC2
LBA 07:10 FAO 10:10 / FAO 11:10 LBA 14:10 = ZB7542/7543
LBA 15:10 TFS 19:50 / TFS 20:50 LBA 01:15* = ZB7504/7505
Wednesday
AC1
LBA 06:50 PMI 10:30 / PMI 11:30 LBA 13:20 = ZB7516/7517
LBA 14:35 HER 20:45 / HER 21:45 LBA 00:05* = ZB7558/7559
AC2
LBA 07:30 BCN 10:50 / BCN 11:40 LBA 13:15 = ZB7554/7555
LBA 14:15 LCA 21:10 / LCA 22:20 LBA 01:30* = ZB7508/7509
Thursday
AC1
LBA 06:50 PMI 10:30 / PMI 11:30 LBA 13:20 = ZB7516/7517
LBA 14:20 ACE 18:40 / ACE 19:40 LBA 23:50 = ZB7592/7593
AC2
LBA 07:10 FAO 10:10 / FAO 11:10 LBA 14:10 = ZB7542/7543
LBA 15:10 ATY 21:35 / ATY 22:35 LBA 01:20* = ZB7596/7597
Friday
AC1
LBA 07:05 MAH 10:45 / MAH 11:45 LBA 13:25 = ZB7584/7585
LBA 14:30 BJV 20:45 / BJV 21:45 LBA 00:15* = ZB7536/7537
AC2
LBA 07:30 BCN 10:50 / BCN 11:40 LBA 13:15 = ZB7554/7555
LBA 14:15 TFS 18:55 / TFS 19:55 LBA 00:20* = ZB7504/7505
Saturday
AC1
LBA 07:10 FAO 10:10 / FAO 11:10 LBA 14:10 = ZB7542/7543
LBA 15:10 HER 21:20 / HER 22:20 LBA 00:40* = ZB7558/7559
AC2
LBA 08:00 PMI 11:40 / PMI 12:40 LBA 14:30 = ZB7516/7517
LBA 15:30 DLM 21:45 / DLM 22:45 LBA 01:20* = ZB7534/7535
Sunday
AC1
LBA 06:50 PMI 10:30 / PMI 11:30 LBA 13:20 = ZB7516/7517
LBA 14:40 ATY 21:05 / ATY 22:05 LBA 00:50* = ZB7596/7597
AC2
LBA 07:30 BCN 10:50 / BCN 11:40 LBA 13:15 = ZB7554/7555
LBA 14:15 LCA 21:10 / LCA 22:20 LBA 01:30* = ZB7508/7509

 

[LBA787]

Just engineer chatter here but there was talk of the A321 being used in s14. It could add up as certain routes have had very high loads this summer....

I guess time will tell...

:s_crazy

 

[Aviador]

We know the A321 can operate into LBA but it is likely to suffer from some performance limitations at LBA. I'm sure Monarch would be better sticking with the A320 at LBA.

 

[LBA787]

I agree Aviador. But can anybody answer this?

Airtours had a summer A321 base at LBA a few years ago and we have had regular flights in past summers from Onur air and Volar to to turkey and the canaries. Were these flights ever weight restricted?

:s_crazy

 

[lbaspotter]

I agree Aviador. But can anybody answer this?

Airtours had a summer A321 base at LBA a few years ago and we have had regular flights in past summers from Onur air and Volar to to turkey and the canaries. Were these flights ever weight restricted?

:s_crazy

I don't think they were payload restricted when Airtours/My Travel based the A321 at LBA. (I could be wrong!) I thought it was more like on a really hot day they had to wait around so to be able to accept a runway 14 departure on the longer runs to Cyprus and the Canaries. Their was also reports of over heating breaks. So they had extended 2 hour turn around's to let the breaks cool down enough...

Other Airbus A321 foreign airlines that have served LBA eg Onur Air & Air Mediterranean don't seem to suffer the same problems for some reason!

Monarch Airlines actually used them on the ski routes to Munich and Grenoble last winter out of LBA and they didn't seem to have too many problems. If I remember correctly they even landed on a wet runway and another accepted a CATII approach in the fog onto runway 32 but they were lightly fuel loaded. Saying that I wouldn't put it past Monarch to have something up there sleeves, as it seems there the only airline so far to be able to accept a CAT111B onto runway 32 with an Airbus A320 some how?

 

[a300boy]

Winter is coming and we will see and hear what takes place when our weather gets worse. As I have said it will be very interesting to see who can do what and when. We do know Ryanair seem to be able to do Cat 3A approaches regardless of the weight thay are at unless the tailwind for 32 is above 10 kts. It seem silly to me they didnt buy Cat 3B certified aircraft for some reason and need 200 m RVR instead of 75 m RVR as a result.

 

[imagineif]

Back in about... 2004.. when Airtours/Mytravel closed the LBA base- they decided to have TFS winter flight which was a W with EMA. That was using the A321 and there was some issues with weights at times. They all had CFM engines on the A321 where as I believe all the Monarch units have IAE. One thing to consider is also that Monarch have a some A321 with more fuel capacity, thanks to an extra fuel tank (i think)- this enables them to use the type on flights to Egypt more comfortably. Spanair also had some so they could fly non stop Scandanavia - Canary Islands.

I don't know the capacity for sure of Monarch's A321 fleet - its website says 214 but seat map websites suggest 220.

Thomas Cooks new A321's are to only have 215 seats :dance:

 

[Jordan-34092]

Compared to main rivals like the 757 which is also bigger in size slightly, the A321 has always badly performed in performance wise.