Monarch Airlines

[Gray Ham]

Cosmos website indicates MON flights from LBA to Rhodes and Zante during summer15. Once weekly Wed pm (RHO),and Thurs pm (ZTH).

 

[stevolba]

Well I hate speculating but there are one of two options, replacement of under preforming Routes, or a third based aircraft with more routes to be loaded, I suppose a third option could be better utilisation of the current aircraft with a revised timetable

 

[Bigman]

Don't you just love these rumours!! How we get from 'increasing to 3 planes' to potentially pulling out and moving to DSA instead in the drop of a hat never ceases to amaze me.

 

[SNOWMAN]

hi bigman
who said they (monarch) maybe pulling out of LBA?? the rumour network came up with 1 aircraft less at man & brum for summer 2015 that's how the rumours started re could there be 1 extra for LBA & 1 for Doncaster,as stated rumour only,no mention of pulling out of LBA,where did that one come from.
regards
sm1

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

Right firstly the DSA/LBA rumour. When I read this on the dried fruity forum I could see some sort of potential to the rumour. Something similar to what easyJet do with Manchester and Liverpool, the routes where the yield is not so strong could operate out of DSA whilst the strong routes out of Leeds and Midlands. This is a possibility given that DSA and Monarch could probably come to some agreement in terms of landing fees etc. Then I thought don’t be so bloody stupid. Monarch have being careful out of Leeds, in terms of not trying to hard to dilute the Manchester base and route portfolio there. They’ve gone the safe options where it’s proven there is a strong market (Palma, Tenerife, Turkey). So why on earth would they then go and dilute not only one base (Leeds) but 2. (EMA and LBA and to some extent even MAN). There was never any rumour of them pulling out of Leeds the rumour as stated started when the LBA/EMA schedules have yet to be released and with 3 spare aircraft DSA seemed a good possibility well – not really.

Secondly, having seen the flight times for both ZTH and RHO it would suggest that we are about to obtain a third aircraft which is good. But yet again they’ve gone with safer Greek destinations where it is proved we have a market. Can we sustain a 3 weekly service to Rhodes? Probably. What else. We are all dying to see if Sharm could work out of LBA.

Thirdly and finally will Monarch ever change to a “leading low cost airline”? NO. Monarch will become a mish-mash of Traditional Charter, Low cost airline, and Low fare leisure airline. Those destinations say it all. If they were going to start changing CHANGE NOW. Not 5 years down the line when you’ve built LBA into strong base with good connections to the Med, Turkey, Cyprus and possibly Egypt. This proves it all. They missed the ball years ago when they took the eyes of the ball, still wanted to be a “traditional charter” and turned a blind eye to Jet2. Then when they wanted to change it took them forever and they did it far too slowly. Now look at Jet2 and Monarch. Says it all really.

 

[Bigman]

Like I said purely 'rumours', not necessarily from forum users. I too hope the latter one is a load of tosh.

 

[White Heather]

Given the investment into LBA (including locally based crew recruited) I cannot see a withdrawal by Monarch, but I could see them concentrating on routes that have high levels of demand, certainly for the current 2 based a/c. If we get a 3rd, that one may venture to other destinations maybe such as the Greek Islands and Sharm el Sheikh. My biggest concern with this delay (which is beginning to feel like the Thomas Cook affair 2 years ago) is that Monarch are losing all their potential early bookings to Jet2 or Ryanair. Good news for both those airlines, potentially bad news for Monarch as they will be reliant upon people who are booking late. I tried to book Monarch to TFS next June but couldn't and opted for Jet2 (as usual). The longer they take to release their Schedules, the harder they will find it fill their 2, 3, or whatever number it is A/C.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

Nicholas1992: I was at Farnborough airshow. During the press preview announcing the boeing aircraft purchase, the boss man of Monarch told us all that the intention was to take on Ryanair and Easyjet in their main bases and becoming a straight forward LCC. he specifically stated they wanted to drop carrying tour company passengers, he could not have been clearer.
You have to remember the Mantegazza family started Monarch as they had issues on seat availability which was hindering the growth of Cosmo travel and started Monarch as a vehicle to transport his cosmo customer.
He implied in his farnborough statement that Mantegazza family have no commercial need for Monarch and to succeed it must become a LCC, his word not mine, it no longer fits in the groups travel portfolio.
I agree with you I think too late and so does the city, we will see who is right, if a white knight appears to fund Monarch.

 

[Aviador]

Monarch pulling out? I see the rumour as highly unlikely considering the initial investment into the LBA base opening. To be honest the rumour has probably been started by somebody in Doncaster given that airports shocking track record in gaining new routes. I agree with White Heather in that the delay in announcing the routes isn't going to do them any favours.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

Just seen this newletter which relates to "Monarch Airlines Repositioning" I have spoken about.http://www.monarchaircraftengineering.c ... etails/140

 

[Aviador]

A further update which may have implications. Reports suggest the airline has axed contracts with Swissport at Gatwick and Manchester after recent baggage handling problems at Gatwick airport. The airline may be renegotiating terms with handling at LBA as the airline uses Swissport at LBA too.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ho ... 40737.html

 

[a300boy]

Its the fact that the review is going on until the autumn that suggests all is not well at Ema and Lba. Why are these two bases having a much longer review period than the other established bases. Seems odd to say the least.

 

[Seasider]

Its the fact that the review is going on until the autumn that suggests all is not well at Ema and Lba. Why are these two bases having a much longer review period than the other established bases. Seems odd to say the least.

I agree, the "big" bases were quickly announced within a few days. The autumn is 5/6 weeks away. If there was going to be a 3rd aircraft they would need to get the flights/holidays on sale as quickly as possible.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Sounds worrying to me. Every day they delay putting LBA flights on sale means more people will make other arrangements, whether that's flying from other airports served by Monarch or possibly using other carriers from LBA.

 

[chrisd80]

Given the investment into LBA (including locally based crew recruited) I cannot see a withdrawal by Monarch, but I could see them concentrating on routes that have high levels of demand, certainly for the current 2 based a/c. If we get a 3rd, that one may venture to other destinations maybe such as the Greek Islands and Sharm el Sheikh. My biggest concern with this delay (which is beginning to feel like the Thomas Cook affair 2 years ago) is that Monarch are losing all their potential early bookings to Jet2 or Ryanair. Good news for both those airlines, potentially bad news for Monarch as they will be reliant upon people who are booking late. I tried to book Monarch to TFS next June but couldn't and opted for Jet2 (as usual). The longer they take to release their Schedules, the harder they will find it fill their 2, 3, or whatever number it is A/C.

Am I plugging Ryanair again? Well maybe. But regards Monarch's late publication of fares. I think I would be correct in saying that Ryanair are usually the last to set fares for the oncoming season and yet always remain competitive. Maybe Monarch will benefit from this? On a totally different subject. Since moving up here I have noticed Leeds and it's people live under the shadow of Manchester. Big is not always best we have a great city with a great airport.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

I wonder if the Jet2 20% off sale which has been running for 8 weeks is having an effect on the launch date.
Does not bode well for next years passenger numbers if we need to promote S15 sales in June/July.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

I believe that some tour operators buy seats from Monarch. Could it be that those operators have maybe delayed committing to buy those seats for next summer, possibly on the basis that they want to start their own operations at LBA? I am thinking of TCA here.

 

[752]

What annoys me about Yorkshire folk is that the majority when booking a holiday will immediately look at booking flights from Manchester, when they can get exactly the same itinerary and usually better flight times from LBA, this is why I take control of my family bookings and influence their decision to fly from LBA!

Low cost holidays are already selling Monarch seats for next year for example Crete
their is a disclaimer that says;

'The full programme for the Charter Low deposit flights you have selected is yet to be finalised. The flight times shown are provisional and subject to change'

& looking to book Zante on a Thursday, the website comes up with costs on the Thursday (as suggested its a new MON flight) however will not let you click on it (a sign that they may become bookable soon) fingers crossed!

 

[SNOWMAN]

hi all
Thomas cook are showing summer 2015 on monarch,except Benidorm and Malaga which are on jet2.
sm1

 

[LBAYORKIE]

You would think then if Monarch have contracted with these tour operators it's unlikely they could 'pull' their flights. I suppose, conversely that they might be waiting for another tour operator/s to make their intentions clear before finalising how many a/c they need and timings.