U.K.’s Monarch Airlines Ceases Operations

In some rather late-night news here in the United States, it looks as though the U.K.’s Monarch Airlines has folded. The airline has ceased operations effective October 2nd, 2017.

Monarch has been in financial turmoil for over a year, and was slapped with a Sunday night deadline to try and come to an agreement with the U.K.’s Civil Aviation Authority, although that deadline has since passed with no resolution.

What This Means for Travelers Scheduled to Fly With Monarch:

The airline is urging customers with tickets for travel within the next day not to go to the airport. Instead, the Civil Aviation Authority, in cooperation with the U.K. government, will operate a series of “rescue flights” aimed at returning the 110,000 stranded passengers back to the United Kingdom. These rescue flights will be free of charge to select passengers (rightfully so).

From my understanding, not all ticket holders are covered. So its better to make sure, just to be safe. You wouldn’t want to think you are guaranteed a seat on one of the “rescue flights” and then not actually be granted one.

• If you are currently abroad and had a scheduled Monarch flight back to the U.K. on or before October 15th 2017, click here and follow the appropriate prompts.
• If the same applies to you but your flight was scheduled for after October 15th 2017, click here and follow the appropriate prompts to see if your covered.
• If you are in the U.K. and had a scheduled Monarch flight abroad, click here and follow the appropriate prompts to see if your covered.

Again, if you are in the U.K. with no ticket, you are urged not to go to the airport, as your flight will not be operating.

This Story is Still Unfolding. I Will Be Updating This Post as Relevant Information Trickles In.

• According to Alex Macheras, some of the rescue flights will be operated by Qatar Airways A320’s, which have already been positioned around Europe in the event the airline went under.
• Monarch’s fleet consisted of 9 A320-200’s, 21 A321-200’s, and 1 737-800.
• The airline had 45 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft on order. Presumably this will mean a loss of roughly 45 aircraft for Boeing’s 737 MAX program.

Were You Scheduled to Fly with Monarch? What Will Your Next Course of Action Be?

 

*Featured Image Courtesy of The Independent