CAA launches flying programme to bring 110,000 customers back to UK in response to Monarch Airlines administration
Monarch Airlines has ceased trading with immediate effect, leaving 110,000 customers overseas and in the region of 300,000 future bookings cancelled
2 October, 2017
Monarch Airlines has ceased trading with immediate effect, leaving 110,000 customers overseas and in the region of 300,000 future bookings cancelled
Government has asked CAA to charter more than 30 aircraft to bring back to the UK Monarch Airlines customers currently overseas
Monarch customers in the UK and yet to travel: don't go to the airport.
There will be no more Monarch flights
Monarch customers abroad: everyone due to fly in the next fortnight will be brought back to the UK at no cost to them. There is no need to cut short your stay
All affected customers should check new website monarch.caa.co.uk for more information
All future Monarch Airlines bookings, including flights and holidays, have now been cancelled following a decision by the company's board to stop trading. This is the UK's largest ever airline to enter administration.
As all of Monarch's flights due to depart from the UK have now been cancelled, customers should not go to their UK airport. Affected customers still in the UK should check monarch.caa.co.uk for further information.
Due to the unprecedented number of UK consumers currently overseas who are affected by this airline administration, the CAA and Government are securing a fleet of more than 30 aircraft, flying to more than 30 airports, to bring 110,000 people back to the UK at no cost to them. This is the equivalent of operating, at very short notice, one of the UK's largest airlines.
The CAA has a dedicated website monarch.caa.co.uk, which is the best source of advice and information for affected customers, and a 24 hour helpline (0300 303 2800 from in the UK and Ireland, and +44 1753 330330 from overseas) to provide additional assistance.
Customers currently overseas should check monarch.caa.co.uk for confirmation of their new flight details which will be available a minimum of 48 hours in advance of their original departure time. This website will be frequently updated with the latest information. Customers currently overseas shouldn't go to the airport unless their flight back to the UK has been confirmed on monarch.caa.co.uk
Andrew Haines, Chief Executive of the CAA, said:
“We know that Monarch's decision to stop trading will be very distressing for all of its customers and employees.
“This is the biggest UK airline ever to cease trading, so the Government has asked the CAA to support Monarch customers currently abroad to get back to the UK at the end of their holiday at no extra cost to them.
“We are putting together, at very short notice and for a period of two weeks, what is effectively one of the UK's largest airlines to manage this task. The scale and challenge of this operation means that some disruption is inevitable. We ask customers to bear with us as we work around the clock to bring everyone home.
“We urge people affected by the company's collapse to check our dedicated website monarch.caa.co.uk for advice and information on flights back to the UK. It also gives information to those passengers that have future bookings with Monarch but are yet to leave the UK.”
The CAA will be providing regular updates as our flying programme develops.
-ENDS-
Notes for editors
All future Monarch bookings, including flights and holidays, have now been cancelled following a decision by the company's board to appoint joint administrators, which has resulted in the airline ceasing to trade.
Customers currently overseas shouldn't go to the airport unless their flight back to the UK has been confirmed on monarch.caa.co.uk. Once their new flight details have been confirmed, we recommend that customers aim to arrive at check-in three hours in advance of their new flight time as check-in is likely to take longer than normal.
Customers will not be able to request to fly back to the UK earlier than the date of their original flight with Monarch. The vast majority of customers' new flights will be at the same time or later than their original booking, so they should continue to enjoy the rest of their holiday.
Monarch customers who haven't yet started their holidays should check whether they have an ATOL certificate for their booking. Customers holding an ATOL certificate issued by Monarch should check monarch.caa.co.uk for more information about how to claim a refund for their flights or holidays. Customers holding an ATOL certificate issued by another travel agent or tour operator should check with whoever they booked their holiday or flights with, for more information about what happens next.
Customers whose future travel is not protected by ATOL should check with their travel insurer, or - depending on how they paid for their holiday - their credit card or debit card issuer, in the first instance.
The CAA's dedicated 24 hour helpline (0300 303 2800 from in the UK and Ireland, and +44 1753 330330 from overseas) is available to provide additional assistance to customers.
The CAA is the UK's specialist aviation regulator. It ensures the aviation industry meets the highest safety standards; protects consumers by making sure they have choice and value and are treated fairly; drives improvements in airlines and airports' environmental performance and ensures industry manages security risks effectively.
ATOL is the UK's holiday financial protection scheme and costs £2.50 per protected customer. It stands for Air Travel Organiser's Licence and by law every UK-based travel company that sells air holidays has to have an ATOL licence.
Previously, the largest ATOL company to stop trading was XL Leisure Group in 2008, which had 43,000 people abroad at the time of the administration.
People who've booked ATOL protected holidays will be protected by the scheme. That means passengers already abroad will be flown home at no extra cost and will be able to claim for certain expenses they incur as a result of this administration. ATOL protected passengers yet to travel will receive a full refund.
More information about the ATOL scheme is available from
ATOL | Pack peace of mind
Follow the CAA on Twitter @UK_CAA and like ATOL on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/atolprotected.
Infographics to use with this story can be downloaded at
https://extranet.dft.gov.uk/monarch
For further information contact the CAA Press Office on 0333 103 6000 /
[email protected]