[GBAIR72]

https://www.gbc.gi/news/monarch-airlines-could-once-again-be-flying-gibraltar

I hope this is true.

[FDOS]

Monarch are missed (by me).

I hope they make a comeback.

[AMcWhirter]

Today Flight Global has published a detail report on what’s happening at Monarch.

The airline, assuming it restarts, would have a small fleet of Airbus equipment and could launch in mid-2024.

However Flight Global notes “much about the revival plan remains unclear.

“In particular there is, as yet, no detail on who is bankrolling the attempt to bring back a name absent from the UK market.”

Daniel Ellingham has been appointed as sole director. He is quoted as saying “We would like to see Monarch flying by mid-2024, however I do accept that this is very optimistic.”

The Flight Global report can be found below. (Limited free access is offered otherwise readers must register to read the piece in full)

Restored Monarch could be flying by next year but questions remain over revival plan https://t.co/1HwNuBEqQn pic.twitter.com/7Klxg0vjxP

— FlightGlobal (@FlightGlobal) August 23, 2023

[MichaelSwitzer]

I hope so 🙁

[cwoodward]

Pounds 165 million of funding is from Greybull Capital LLP (a private investment company that specialises in medium- to long-term investments in UK-based companies) and other unnamed (supposed) European and American investors ?

It seems that there is to be a (used) leased mixed fleet of 15 X A319s and A320S.

This investment was just in time as today the temporary extension to Monarch’s existing licence granted by the Civil Aviation Authority expired would have expired.

Frankly I am a little surprised at the seeming warm welcome re the return of Monarch given the way that the airline walked away from all and every responsibility when they abruptly folded leaving the thousands of ticketed passengers in the lurch with zero warning or compensation and investors (who should probably have seen the writing on the wall) with nothing.

3 users thanked author for this post.

DerekVH, BackOfThePlane, theflyingnurse

[esselle]

Isn’t it only the name/brand that’s being revived?

[MichaelSwitzer]

Thanks for info.

[cwoodward]

Yes I believe so Esselle but the press releases indicate that the ‘new’ airline will be a similar model as the previous incarnation, fly from the same UK airports to similar destinations as previously and also have again a ‘holiday’ arm.

[sandiego1]

Livingbridge, the private equity company behind Love Holidays, is applying for trademarks, so that is a fairly big clue as to the plans. It was reported this morning that Love Holidays may be put up for sale for around one billion pounds next year but whether having an airline adds or subtracts from that figure remains to be seen

[AlanOrton1]

From memory, back in the late 1990’s / early 2000’s Monarch used to ‘offer’ a scheduled service from LTN to select European destinations.
I flew them a couple of time to GIB & ALC. Printed menu cards, three course meal and full bar. All for less than BA, even factoring the cost / inconvenience of getting to and from Luton.
Such largesse didn’t last long though.

[BackOfThePlane]

As with @cwoodward I don’t see the return of Monarch through rose-tinted glasses. For me too, my abiding memory of the airline will be the absolute mess that they left when they went belly-up.

Some might say that Monarch 2 involves new people, investors etc; so why are they celebrating a brand that left people out of pocket and the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s ATOL scheme with a huge bill.

On that basis, sorry, I hope it doesn’t succeed.

1 user thanked author for this post.

theflyingnurse

[esselle]

In response to your, and cwoodward’s comments, do remember that the folk who presided over the (evidently sub optimal) demise of the “old” Monarch have long since disappeared into the sunset, and so I think it a little unfair to say you hope it doesn’t succeed.

A brave decision to start a new airline, but why damn them before they’ve even started?

I wish them luck.

[cwoodward]

As do I esselle if they are indeed a new team just making use of a well known (if perhaps a little tarnished) brandT to launch a new enterprise.

[DavidGrodentz]

@cwoodward Greybull owned Monarch at the time of their collapse. Are you sure that they are involved again?

[cwoodward]

I was reading from Wednesdays FT online………..That was at the time my only source and I took it to me correct.

[Author]

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