Monarch Airlines

[lbaspotter]

Good news: Monarch have released summer 2018 flights from LBA for sale today. All 10 routes currently served remain opertional with up to 28 weekly flights.
Bad news: The is no change to the scheduled, So LBA remains 2x based aircraft.

Alicante = 3x weekly, Tue, Thu & Sun
Barcelona = 3x weekly, Mon, Fri & Sun
Dalaman = 3x weekly, Mon, Wed & Sat
Faro = 5x weekly, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat & Sun
Larnaca = 2x weekly, Wed & Sat
Palma = 3x weekly, Tue, Thu & Sat
Malaga = 3x weekly, Tue, Wed & Sun
Mahon = 2x weekly, Mon & Fri
Naples = 2x weekly, Mon & Fri
Tenerife South = 2x weekly, Tue & Fri

 

[Aviador]

It's just fantastic news that Monarch remain committed to LBA and indeed a far bigger commitment than we ever got from the likes of Thomas Cook or Thomson.

 

[LeedsPilot]

I know it's a long shot but on the BHX forum they're reporting the full schedule hasn't been loaded yet. Either way it's great to see Monarch holding their ground after Jet2 and Ryanair expansion. Some of Monarch's new routes from its other bases such as Lisbon, Porto and Stockholm would be excellent grabs for LBA... I'll keep dreaming for now

 

[imagineif]

Fab news, so glad! I hope they can continue strong now and get past last years wobble. Good to see them still a strong player at Leeds after people saying it would be short lived base. I still think they offer a solid product and the brand has a degree of class about it which was lost when great names such as Caledonian and Britannia disappeared. A weekly Gibraltar would be cool #JustSaying

 

[Tarn Spotter]

On the 13th August I posted this comment on the Jet2 forum in response to a comment that Jet2 may be thinking of buying Monarch.
"I cant see the logic in any airline wanting Monarch, your going to have to pay a huge sum just to pick up the debts, cant see any value in the company worth paying anything and just getting problems in return"
Since I posted this note Monarch's accounts for the year to 31st October 2016 have been filed which show a loss of £291.1m against a small profit the previous year.
In the main the problem is related to the present aircraft mix, two main provisions made, Impairment of aircraft £102.763M and Onerous contracts £198.472m. basically the first provision to get the aircraft fit for return at the end of the lease and the second provision the high cost of the present leases, (accounts state lease costs in excess of currant revenue)
I did not realise until I read the accounts that flight only bookings no longer ATOL covered and Monarch therefore expect their ATOL renewal at the end of September should not cause the issue it did in 2016 as only holiday sales need to be covered.
Not sure were the funds are to buy the new Boeing 737 Max that are on order.
The £147m Greybull put in to the company in October 2016 now spent, will they be prepared to fund over £1b of new aircraft, without them the company in dire problems.

 

[Finger66]

Remember how much BA paid to buy Dan Air. It was £1 I believe. This is only the same as buying a break even company for say 100 million. These are example figures. So it is not to say LS couldn't buy ZB for a nominal sum. Yes they would inherit debts but the slots and new aircraft would be worth a fortune and would aid expansion. I am not saying this is a done deal but I would also say never is never. Yes it's unlikely but remember how unpredictable the aviation industry is. It never fails to surprise!

 

[lbaspotter]

Ask Boeing who are the real owner of Monarch new 737-MAX's? And the upfront deposit for the cancelled Boeing 787 deamliner's order may have come in handy as well as part payment towards the new fleet.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

Yes they would inherit debts but the slots and new aircraft would be worth a fortune and would aid expansion.

Whoever bought Monarch they need to find £300M as this is the funds needed up to 2022 to pay the currant lease costs and find the £102M to ensure the fleet can be returned in good condition after the end of the lease.
Like the £1 BHS deal Green did, you can do a deal without taking on the debts, but does say Jet2 want the slots etc which are the cream in this deal, never mind the £1B needed for the new aircraft, accept Boeing have no interest in this deal going forward and would be happy if it quietly was put to sleep

 

[scottrhino]

I have just returned from flying with Monarch from LBA to Faro and I have to say they were excellent. The outbound and inbound on time, excellent flight crew and smart and clean cabin. If they were to disappear it would be very sad and if rumours are abound within the Monarch ranks then I have to say that the crew put on a very brave face.

The outbound was 166 + 2 + crew and inbound pretty much full and should be considering the summer holidays. However, many people we spoke to in Armacao De Pera commented that the British just hadn't turned up this year. It's not a place where the brits go on mass but it was interesting to hear the comments and it may well be a tough autumn and winter with the £ hitting a near 1 - 1 rate at the moment for all airlines. In fact just before I departed I checked the flight prices and whilst I had booked very early you could still book on both Jet 2 and Monarch on the 31st July and return on the 18th August for the 5 seats we needed. Whilst probably not in the right thread the argument used to be book early and guarantee a cheaper seat but from the experience above I can tell you that I would have saved 35% by booking with only a week to go. Food for thought for next year!!

 

[lbaspotter]

Interestingly I had a email which contained a link to an online questionnaire sent to me from Monarch Airlines marketing earlier this week.

1) I had to select which UK base was closest to me: LGW, LTN, BHX, MAN, LBA.
2) I was then asked 2 multichoice questions about short haul & long haul routes (All the destinations were listed, you just had to select which ones you'll like to see them serve from the UK base you had selected at the beginning)

Wither the questions were the same if you chose any of there 5 UK base I'm not sure! Of course I chose the nearest bease to me, that been LBA.

 

[Aviador]

What destinations were available to select which were long haul?

 

[lbaspotter]

What destinations were available to select which were long haul?

Quite a few, Definitely included US East Coast (eg New York, Florida and others) Canada, Cuba, Mexico, Caribbean.
Going the other way Middle East (eg Dubai), Sri Lanka, Male, Maldives and a few African routes.
Many of the destinations we could only ever dream of been served and viable from LBA!

 

[Aviador]

Well as much as I'd like to see those kind of destinations from LBA I just hope they remain committed. I am sure with the right equipment some long haul routes will work. Fingers crossed they look beyond Manchester for a change!

 

[michael]

Does anyone know what the likely configuration on the 737 Max will be in terms of passenger capacity? Given a full load I was just wondering what the likely range would be from LBA?

 

[Jerry]

The 737 Max 200 will be able to seat up to 200 passengers hence the name.

Monarch are getting the MAX 8 not the MAX 200 so I'd imagine they'd have a seating plan the same as their A320s of 174 or maybe the same as the 737 8 they have at 186

 

[David_itl]

With the requirements for 1 FA per 50 seats, Monarch (and any other airline) will be having no more than 199 seats fitted into their aircraft unless they specifically go after a 215+ seat aircraft so it then become more economic for the 4th FA to be onboard.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

Given a full load I was just wondering what the likely range would be from LBA?

I wonder how this is calculated. A few years back flying with Jet2 from LBA and we had to take off wih limited fuel as a hot day (26 degrees) and land at East Midlands and fill up. Told unable to take off at LBA full, due to weather conditions. I cant remember whether a 737 or 757, think the later.
So its just not range, but runway length and weather come in to the calculation.
At the time did not think 26 degrees that hot to effect proformance on a limited flight distance.

 

[a300boy]

The temperature, height of the airfield above sea level and number of engines you have will all be in the calculation to be made by the crew.

 

[White Heather]

And the weight at take off, and wind direction too. Or whether or not this is any wind.

 

[lbaspotter]

Hum Interesting. I see Monarch are now advertising Cabin crew jobs vacancies available at all 5 of there UK bases which includes Leeds/Bradford.