Monarch Airlines

[Aviador]

Monarch hails record sales for new Cyprus link

March 30, 2009 Monarch Airlines is claiming that its new link between Birmingham Airport and the Cypriot resort of Larnaca has become its fastest selling service ever.

The low-cost carrier revealed that half of the 22,000 seats made available for the summer service have already been sold, despite the first flight taking off just yesterday (March 29).

Managing Director Tim Jeans said that the high level of demand reflects what he described as a gap in the market for West Midlands based holidaymakers.

The no-frills airline will be operating its connection twice a week on Wednesday and Sunday, with fares starting from £78.99 one-way, including all taxes.

It now operates 21 weekly flights to the picturesque Cypriot resort, with other services departing from London Gatwick, London Luton and Manchester airports.

Source

 

[Ray Finkle]

Along with BCN

new routes from Birmingham

BHX-Funchal 2 x weekly starting October 15: ZB 982
BHX-Grenoble 3 x weekly starting December 15: ZB 5418
BHX-Munich 4 x weekly starting September 21: ZB 5464 [2 x weekly September + October]
BHX-Sharm El Sheik 2 x Weekly starting October 18: ZB 472

 

[Aviador]

Monarch are making some big changes at the moment with a large drive into operating scheduled flights from regional airports. They have been around for a long time and they're a well known brand so it should work well for them. It looks like Birmingham has come off quite well from the new route announcements.

 

[Ray Finkle]

BCN confirmed and daily service to Nice announced.

Monarch Airlines Summer 2012 Flight Programme for Birmingham and East Midlands Airports
17 05 2012


- Expanded services from Birmingham Airport, including new scheduled flights to Nice and Barcelona
- First programme of scheduled flights from new UK base, East Midlands Airport

Monarch, the leading scheduled leisure airline, has today expanded its flight programme for Summer 2012, introducing two new scheduled services from Birmingham Airport to Barcelona and Nice. The airline also today launched its first programme of flights from its new UK base, East Midlands Airport, operating to key leisure destinations across the Mediterranean.

Flights for Summer 2012 from East Midlands Airport will start from 31st August 2012 and will include daily services to Malaga, Alicante, Faro (Portugal) and Palma (Majorca) all available to book via http://www.monarch.co.uk.

New and additional flights from Birmingham Airport will start from 20th July 2012 and include the following services:

• Nice* - Daily flights
• Malaga – 4 additional weekly flights (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays)
• Barcelona* - 4 weekly flights (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays)
• Majorca – 3 additional weekly flights (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays)
• Alicante – 3 additional weekly flights (Mondays, Tuesdays and Sundays)
• Faro – 2 additional weekly flights (Thursdays and Saturdays)
• Rome – 2 additional weekly flights (Mondays and Wednesdays)
• Dalaman – 1 additional weekly flight (Fridays)
• Ibiza – 1 additional weekly flight (Wednesdays)
• Tenerife – 1 additional weekly flight (Saturdays)

Commenting on the additional flights for Summer 2012 flights and the new routes, Managing Director of Monarch Airlines, Kevin George said, ““We are delighted to be expanding our Summer 2012 flights programme from Birmingham Airport and launching our first programme of flights from East Midlands Airport; providing greater choice to customers in the Midlands.

“The launch of operations from East Midlands accelerates the strategy we announced last year to focus on the development of our scheduled operations into key leisure destinations across the Mediterranean, the Canaries and North Africa.

“The addition of new daily services from Birmingham Airport to Nice, a new scheduled destination for the airline and the new services to Barcelona supports our determination to deliver an all-encompassing proposition; offering choice, value and superior customer service from all of the major gateways in the UK.”

*New scheduled routes

 

[Ray Finkle]

New route to Gibraltar from March. Looks to be nine based for next summer with a couple of gaps so hoping another new route or upped frequency to come.

2012 News - Flights - MONARCH LAUNCHES BIRMINGHAM GIBRALTAR ROUTE
14 08 2012

Monarch, the leading scheduled leisure airline is to launch flights to Gibraltar as part of the carrier’s expansion of its Birmingham network of routes for summer 2013.

Offering three flights a week from the West Midlands airport, the service will start on 23 March 2013, with tickets now on sale.
The flight from Birmingham will depart on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 6.35am, arriving in Gibraltar at 10.30am. The return flight will depart Gibraltar at 11.15am, arriving in Birmingham at 1.10pm.

“We are delighted to be introducing what we are sure will be a popular route,” Kevin George, Managing Director of Monarch Airlines said. “We have carried out a lot of research to understand the routes our customers want and we are confident that a service from Birmingham to Gibraltar will meet their demands.”

Commenting on the developments Gibraltar Government Minister of Tourism, Public Transport and the Port, The Hon. Neil Costa, said ’We are delighted that Monarch Airlines has decided to provide a service from the Midlands to Gibraltar and that their decision will bring great commercial opportunity all round.

Monarch has also introduced new routes from Birmingham to both Barcelona and Nice this year and expanded the frequency of flights to Malaga, Majorca, Alicante, Faro, Rome, Dalaman, Ibiza and Tenerife.

Flights start at £44.99 including taxes and charges and can be booked online at http://www.monarch.co.uk

 

[Aviador]

I never realised Monarch had so many aircraft based at Birmingham airport. NINE for next summer. :shok: That's a large base by any standards. The airline seems to be having a expansion drive at the moment from numerous airports, not just at BHX. Has there been any word yet about the airlines fleet renewal?

 

[Ray Finkle]

We've had eight based this summer including an Aurela 733 and Air Explore 734 (which went tech today so we had an A300 do the Palma flight). I think by number of pax Monarch are the largest at BHX now, it's Flybe by number of flights, they've certainly been aggressive since the demise of Baby.

 

[Ray Finkle]

The last sentence is interesting. At the moment there looks to be nine based a/c for next summer with one or two gaps, but I've heard it suggested there are plans to have ten based so if true some new routes needed.

Gibraltar air link will be business boost for Birmingham Airport


BUSINESSES in the West Midlands will have a direct link to a British outpost when a new air route takes off from Birmingham.

Scheduled airline Monarch is starting the service to the colony of Gibraltar as part of its expansion from the city’s airport in 2013.

There will be three flights a week from March 23.

“We are delighted to be introducing what we are sure will be a popular route,” Kevin George, managing director of Monarch said.

“We have carried out a lot of research to understand the routes our customers want and we are confident that a service from Birmingham to Gibraltar will meet their demands.”

Monarch is also planning several other new routes from Birmingham.

http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top- ... -31631948/

 

[Aviador]

It wouldn't surprise me with the way Monarch are expanding at the moment. They must feel they are in a strong position to compete with airlines such as Jet2 who have a similar kind of operation. Monarch with 32 aircraft, Jet2 with 45 aircraft. Monarch have a better base distribution with aircraft in the more prosperous South East England.

 

[Ray Finkle]

I hope they'll acquire additional aircraft over the winter. The Aurela 737 has caused them alot of negative press, the TFS delay made last nights evening news headlines, then again this morning, and the "they've finally made it home" story is coming up tonight. I've also heard lots of bad things about the 'tired and shoddy' Air Explore 737, not to mention the 'Mayday' incident, which again made the news. I suppose with them jumping in to fill babys shoes at very short notice it's the best they could do.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bi ... m-19319612

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bi ... m-19328970

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bi ... m-19262807

 

[Aviador]

[textarea]Mayday call heard on Monarch Birmingham to Palma flight

An airline pilot's Mayday call was heard by passengers moments before the aircraft rapidly dropped altitude.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bi ... m-19262807[/textarea]

The last one sounds like a de-pressurisation problem. Aircraft only have a limited supply of oxygen on-board and at 37,000ft there isn't sufficient oxygen to survive hence the rapid decent. The steep decent isn't the aircraft 'falling out of the sky' as it probably feels like to the passengers but the aircraft descending to a safe altitude where oxygen is sufficient for the majority of people. Passengers with additional requirements for oxygen can be given extra oxygen by the cabin crew once the aircraft has stabilised.

 

[Ray Finkle]

According to Jethros Monarch have 2x A320's and 2x A321's due for the first quarter of 2013, March/April time. Apparently another four A320/1's are also planned to be leased.

http://www.jethros.org.uk/fleets/fleet_ ... rlines.htm

 

[Ray Finkle]

Looks as though Monarch have cancelled the Milan flights as of Nov 4th. Flights from MAN and LGW also canx.

 

[Aviador]

Flights Milan always seem to struggle through the winter months. It mustn't make any money.

 

[Aviador]

[textarea]Monarch Launch New Winter Flights to Sharm El Sheikh from Birmingham

Leading scheduled leisure airline, Monarch, today celebrated its inaugural flight from Birmingham to the winter sun destination of Sharm El Sheikh.

The flight will operate once a week on a Thursday from 18 October and twice a week from 30 October, for the winter 2012/13 season.

Commenting on the launch of this new 2012/13 winter flight, Managing Director of Monarch Airlines, Kevin George said: “We are delighted to be expanding our winter 2012/13 flights programme from Birmingham Airport, providing our customers in the Midlands with even more flexibility and choice.

"The launch of the Egypt flight, already a popular route for us out of Gatwick and Manchester airports, is a great opportunity for those who wish to escape the UK’s cold winters. This is followed by another exciting route launch in December when we have our first flight from Birmingham to the popular ski destination of Grenoble.”

Martyn Lloyd, Commercial Director at Birmingham airport commented: “This new flight from Monarch means passengers now have even more choice from their local airport. We are delighted with the commitment that Monarch has shown to the region in offering this new route and also the addition of the new route to Grenoble.

"Monarch is going from strength to strength at Birmingham and the services and facilities that it offers means passengers have choice, value and convenience from their local airport.”

Birmingham Airport Press Release[/textarea]

 

[Ray Finkle]

Monarch have pulled the Saturday Munich flight for the rest of the month, loads are shocking by all accounts. There looks to be some great deals to be had at the moment from BHX to Munich.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Two new routes for next summer both from May 22nd.

Bordeaux - Mon,Wed,Sat.

Split - Wed,Fri,Sun

 

[Aviador]

Bordeaux and Split should prove very popular. I remember the days when Yugotours had several flights to Split from just about every major airport in the country back in the early 90's before the troubles started there. It's taken decades for the region to recover but it's coming back.

Adria Airways Airbus A320 by White Heather hosted on Forums4airports.com

 

[Ray Finkle]

I vaguely remember seeing the Aviogenex 727's and Tupolevs at BHX

Bordeaux and Split seem to be gap fillers using some of the old MXP slots, but a couple of nice additions which will hopefully do well.

Still nine based for next summer but winter 13/14 looks to be five based (one up on the usual four) with several frequency increases, only MUC (not bookable.....yet?) and FCO (down to two) see a decrease.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Munich still not bookable beyond November 3rd, can't say it is a surprise if it doesn't return.