Monarch can clearly not compete with EasyJet and Ryanair. This much we've known for years. Now however, it must contend with Norwegian and Jet2. Thomson and Thomas Cook have an expanding LH programme whereas Monarch ditched it all. If LH is now back on the table at Monarch, that's good but it's too little too late. Monarch is entering a phase of fleet renewal that is justified by fuel/maintenance savings but everyone outside of Monarch can see it was the fleet renewal that has given Monarch a life line (money created out of thin air). The anticipated savings are not going to be seen for a long time. In summary, Monarch (like others) can't compete with the low co airlines and doesn't have a back up plan either (in terms of LH or winter sun destinations). I remember pushing back at Birmingham in January this year (2017) and seeing no less than 6 Monarch frames parked up with doors closed whilst my airline had 3 departures that morning to winter sun destinations. It looked like the company wasn't even trying to fill those planes.