Monarch Airlines

[Aviador]

It seems to me that as time goes on with this repatriation process, less and less of the LBA passengers are being flown back to LBA! Only 50% today and 25% tomorrow. I can't help thinking that the process put in place by the CAA has not favoured our passengers at all. Fine having split loaders but why should the LBA pax have to be then bussed over 200 miles from Gatwick? The Wamos Air is capable of landing at LBA and during the day I am sure they could have made one off arrangements to accommodate it. Likewise the Tenerife flight into BHX. Granted, late at night it would be more difficult with the LBA apron full to capacity.

I couldn't agree more Heather. I seem to recall something similar happening before when a tour operator went bust. I'm not sure if it was Sunseekers Leisure or another operator? In any case I can recall some aircraft going to other airports rather than using LBA.

 

[BarnsleyHolidays]

It seems to me that as time goes on with this repatriation process, less and less of the LBA passengers are being flown back to LBA! Only 50% today and 25% tomorrow. I can't help thinking that the process put in place by the CAA has not favoured our passengers at all. Fine having split loaders but why should the LBA pax have to be then bussed over 200 miles from Gatwick? The Wamos Air is capable of landing at LBA and during the day I am sure they could have made one off arrangements to accommodate it. Likewise the Tenerife flight into BHX. Granted, late at night it would be more difficult with the LBA apron full to capacity.

According to the CAA website, our one and only flight on the 10th from Alicante will also be conveying passengers for their M62 bus trip to Manchester!

Barnsley Holidays

 

[tleeds]

It’s been happening vice versa too! Swissport have been having to organise coaches for the past week for Pax needing coaches to Manchester.

Don’t know whether it’s the airport or the CAA who have funded this but any of these Pax who are waiting for transport back to MAN have been provided with a goody bag from Ritazza cafe (a bottle of water and crisps I believe) for whilst they wait.

What’s more annoying is every repatriation flight that’s coming in is being met by a member of Border Force who hand out a form for every passenger BEFORE they can disembark. I believe the form is optional to sign and it’s part of the CAA attempting to claim money back that it’s funded for the repatriation flights.
Can understand why the CAA want to reclaim as much of the reported £60m back but I’m sure all the Pax want to do is get home, I’m sure their holiday has been traumatic enough and full of worry.

 

[lbaspotter]

CAA Planned Monarch reputation flights into LBA

Wednesday 11/10/17
14:05 Malaga = AWC1213 (Duel loaded with Birmingham passengers )
15:40 Dalaman = FHY825 (Operates into London Luton = Freebird - A320)
23:50 Faro = AWC1243 (Duel loaded with Manchester passengers)
03:05 Cyprus Larnaca = OMI1165 (Operates into Birmingham = Omni Air Int’l - B777)

 

[lbaspotter]

CAA Planned Monarch reputation flights into LBA

Not a good day for LBA pax, as not one flight due to arrive as all are going elsewhere.

Thursday 12/10/17
14:05 Faro = AWC581 (Operates into Manchester = Titan, B752)
14:50 Malaga = OMI971 (Operates into Birmingham = Omni Air Int’l, B777)
17:30 Palma = BAW-TBC- (Operates into London Gatwick = Qatar Airways, A320)
23:30 Alicante = OMI495 (Opeates into Birmingham = Omni Air Int’l, B777)

 

[tleeds]

Just watched an online video article from LBC Radio where a Monarch captain had phoned in to reveal that staff were all asked to phone in to a premium phone line to find out their fate regarding redundancy.

The captain has come away with a £40 phone bill from the call to find out he’d lost his job. When he phoned up the line he was told he was caller 160 and that it’s more than likely more staff have connected the call after himself!

He made a point towards the end of the clip regarding he CAA. He questioned why they have, at great expense, chartered aircraft and crew from overseas to repatriate Monarch customers. Probably a very emotional and distraught captain regarding the collapse but how easy would it have been for the CAA to legally keep Monarch going just for the repatriation period until the 15/16th of this month!

Fuel? Extended Lease of A/C? Admin Costs for Rostering etc? I’m sure the CAA could have saved a few pence if this was legal?

Shut the booking side and new commercial business down but hire the crew and airline license to at least just repatriate?

Interesting!

Link for video:

 

[Aviador]

Just watched an online video article from LBC Radio where a Monarch captain had phoned in to reveal that staff were all asked to phone in to a premium phone line to find out their fate regarding redundancy.

The captain has come away with a £40 phone bill from the call to find out he’d lost his job. When he phoned up the line he was told he was caller 160 and that it’s more than likely more staff have connected the call after himself!

He made a point towards the end of the clip regarding he CAA. He questioned why they have, at great expense, chartered aircraft and crew from overseas to repatriate Monarch customers. Probably a very emotional and distraught captain regarding the collapse but how easy would it have been for the CAA to legally keep Monarch going just for the repatriation period until the 15/16th of this month!

Fuel? Extended Lease of A/C? Admin Costs for Rostering etc? I’m sure the CAA could have saved a few pence if this was legal?

Shut the booking side and new commercial business down but hire the crew and airline license to at least just repatriate?

Interesting!

Link for video:

A very good point tomleeds. Air Berlin ends on the 28th on the month. Why couldn't Monarch have done the same. We Brits do things arse about tit sometimes.

 

[tleeds]

Indeed Aviador!

Can’t believe about AirBerlin though! LLC’s are taking over!
Another heritage name gone!

 

[Finger66]

I think the problem here was that contingencies had to be put in place whilst it was still "if" not "when". Unfortunately it did become "when". Air Berlin are different in the sense they are winding down gradually through what are clearly differing rules in another country. All the above said I totally agree that both situations are totally ludicrous and in effect little different from one another. Unless this was all about Greybull getting themselves into a position where the financial impact on them was minimal

 

[Finger66]

I think the problem here was that contingencies had to be put in place whilst it was still "if" not "when". Unfortunately it did become "when". Air Berlin are different in the sense they are winding down gradually through what are clearly differing rules in another country. All the above said I totally agree that both situations are totally ludicrous and in effect little different from one another. Unless this was all about Greybull getting themselves into a position where the financial impact on them was minimal

 

[lbaspotter]

I thought BALPA had an agreement sorted last week with Monarch's Administratiors KPMG that all staff whom were charged for that said conference call last week have been reimbursed.

 

[a300boy]

Lets hope that Thomas Cook can offer some positions to ex Monarch crew next year.

 

[dmrodgers]

It seems to me that as time goes on with this repatriation process, less and less of the LBA passengers are being flown back to LBA! Only 50% today and 25% tomorrow. I can't help thinking that the process put in place by the CAA has not favoured our passengers at all. Fine having split loaders but why should the LBA pax have to be then bussed over 200 miles from Gatwick? The Wamos Air is capable of landing at LBA and during the day I am sure they could have made one off arrangements to accommodate it. Likewise the Tenerife flight into BHX. Granted, late at night it would be more difficult with the LBA apron full to capacity.

Fully agree White Heather, was on the Wamos Air Flight yesterday EB213 from Faro to LBA which operated to London Gatwick using 747-400 EC-MRM. Whilst we were grateful of the actions of the CAA and Govt to get us home, check in at Faro was 8am, departure 11.05 to Gatwick and then coach up to Leeds. Departure was over 1 hours late due to missing passenger and baggage having to be offloaded, on the plus side Wamos Air looked after us all well and provided a free ham and cheese sandwich to everyone on board plus a free drink. Arrival at Gatwick was excellently policed by CAA staff directing to the coach up to Leeds. An horrendous then ensued due to heavy London traffic with major delays on the M25 and then M1 just north of London resulting in a very late arrival into LBA at 21.45. Eleven hours from boarding the aircraft to arriving home. Can understand it is not feasible to operate to every airport for every flight but Birmingham would have been a better choice making it fairer for everyone looking at diversity of passengers original departure airport.

 

[lbaspotter]

Monarch Airlines administrator KPMG has just lost its High Court battle for the rights to sell the landing and take-off slots the airline currently holds for summer 2018 at its 5+ UK bases at London Gatwick, London Luton, Manchester, Birmingham & Leeds/Bradford.

They were expected to sell in the region of £60 million, with the likes of British Airways, Norwegian, Easyjet & Wizz Air all reportedly interested, but the slots will now be put back into the slot pool and reallocated by ACL (Airport Co-ordination Limited)

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-41913636

 

[lbaspotter]

KPMG have been granted a Judicial Review by the High Court regarding the Monarch slot issue.

 

[lbaspotter]

1 year on since there demise, Gone but never forgotten #Monarch

 

[Bigman]

But we at least still get the odd 'Monarch-Cook' A321 on a weekend!!

 

[a300boy]

Not for long ! Smaller aircraft are coming for next summer so it is goodbye to the very nice A321 fleet.

 

[lbaspotter]

Another sad day for Aviation. This is the final nail in the coffin for what was once a great UK based operator

Monarch Aircraft Engineering Ltd (MAEL) which is owned by Graybull (survived despite Monarch’s Airlines collapse) has now gone into administration — This resulting in the loss of almost 500 jobs across the UK.

I understand MAEL still had a small number of employees based at Leeds/ Bradford Airport.

 

[airforced]

Great shame to hear this news. I'm no expert but didn't they have a good reputation and handle many of the UK operators maintenance requirements and weren't Jet2 one their customers?