Monarch Airlines (MON/ZB) has denied rumours that it is about to cease operations using their social media accounts despite the fact that the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) have been chartering aircraft from Omni Air, Air Transat and United Airlines to cover routes served by Monarch as their operating licence expires at the end of the September.
There is not enough cash to meet the requirements for a new licence leaving the CAA with no alternative but to suspend Monarchs operations leaving the airline unable to operate flights.
The CAA has stated contigencies are in place and this is believed to include multiple chartered aicraft already position around Europe.
Monarch’s major investors Greybull are rumoured to be providing yet another bailout for the carrier however at least 2 sources have told Aviation Wales that Greybull wish to sell off the airline (or its assets) and concentrate on Tata Steel.
Current known aircraft:
- United Airlines Boeing 747-400 N116UA Currently at PMI due to operate LPA – BHX This evening
- United Airlines Boeing 747-400 N120UA recently arrived at TFS
- Omni Air Boeing 767 N477AX Currently NAP
- Omni Air Boeing 777 N819AX Currently BCN
- Omni Air Boeing 777 N2017AX Currently LGW
- Air Transat A330 due into MAN today
- Miami Air Boeing 737-800 N733MA Currently LPA
Monarch’s recent accounts showed it had turned a £210m loss into a pre-tax profit of £26m. But the report also states that Monarch faces “material uncertainity” due to the airline having no external financing in place.
@matthewgordonn Hi Matthew, there is no truth in the rumours we are going bust. ^GH
— Monarch (@Monarch) September 25, 2016
Monarch Airlines is owned by First Aviation Ltd and is a low-cost airline based in Luton. They have suffered a decline in passengers of around 20% per year over the last 2 years.
It has a fleet of 34 aircraft and serves 43 destinations.