Monarch -2

[renort]

WHEN did ANYONE, EVER say Monarch were getting 738's? and by anyone, I mean a director of the business, not someone who spends his spare time loading adhocs on wikipedia.

great rumour, but too many people are adding two and two and getting 738! whereas the company is trying to work out how to add two and two to get to Fourteen Million (p.a.)

[partyboy_uk]

Well, to be fair, KG did describe the fact that Monarch was looking at the 737 (I don't think type was mentioned) as one of the worst kept secrets in the company. People haven't just picked this up from anywhere. That Wiki entry has confirmed what I've been warning a friend about believing everything you see on there! An untimely removal of the 787 order info on there just before it was actually confirmed somehow reinforced its accuracy in his mind?! I will just point out that Monarch does not have a base in Cork, simply flights operating from there. And where does this information about flights for TCX from LBA in 2012 come from? Someone please enlighten me. That Monarch Airlines destinations page needs a bit of a clean up!

It was also said that the 757 was in Monarch's sights for disposal. How soon this will be we we'll just have to wait and see. It will be interesting to see what happens with the VIP flying when they do go. Whilst people chant on about just how versatile or well-performing the 757 is, if it doesn't make the company money (one Capt told me it costs on average 3 times as much per pax, though not sure how true this is) then there's simply no place for it in the company. The A321 is coping very well with the current network, including the SSH's. Personally, I would favour an Airbus replacement to keep with fleet commonality.

I know there are long waiting lists for new aircraft to be made (738's, 739's, A320/1 neo's etc.), but does anyone know if aircraft leasing companies only order aircraft for onward orders of their own or do they order based on forecasted demand? Is it not feasible for Monarch to lease aircraft they need on an interim basis and place orders for their own units to arrive at a later date?

[JSCL]

A/C leasing companies for the most part will not sit on stock. They order and maintain assets based on demand asked of them. The leasing company orders for the 787's are done only by request of airlines wanting them. They won't just sit on them - that's bad business. Some may have a handful of A/C sitting around, but it is unlikely.

HOWEVER! It has been known that for types with predicted high demand that they will sometimes sit on stock. The whole 73x range and the standard 32x range are a common option that leasing companies are likely to have tucked away, mainly because there is a constant demand still going on for them across the world.

[Topspotter]

Renort your havin a larf surely, it was/is common knowledge in mon that they were talking to boeing ref the NG

They do need to get their hotpotch fleet sorted just how much longer can they flog those anceint 300 and 320/757 a/c for? the engineering costs alone must be crippling not to mention the crewing issues .

[renort]

big difference between talking and doing TS

[Skipness One Echo]

They do need to get their hotpotch fleet sorted just how much longer can they flog those anceint 300 and 320/757 a/c for? the engineering costs alone must be crippling not to mention the crewing issue

Well except you can cross fleet on the A320/A321 and not sure if Monarch do, but the A330 has a very similar flight deck. So that leaves the B757 for the long routes that are beyond the A321 and the A300 for high capcity. It's not that much of a hotch-potch and as you are well aware, Monarch have in house and world class engineering in MAEL.

[RoyHudd]

Are Monarch reducing their long-haul operation? This is a sturdy rumour around the bazaars, perhaps elicited by the 787 cancellation.

[Skipness One Echo]

I believe so, look at Thomas Cook's rapid downsizing in the same market. It's not currently worth the candle, this was a driver in not taking the B787 after all as the return on the capital investment was no longer there.

[Topspotter]

Im sure mon engineering do a great job, but at the end of the day engineers aint cheap and the costs of maintaining and operating those old, thirsty and lets face it unreliable 300,s must be very high, and as they age even more the costs only going one way.

And yes RH i would say there out of LH as it is, the odd goa and florida is all thats left

[Skipness One Echo]

and the costs of maintaining and operating those old, thirsty and lets face it unreliable 300,s must be very high, and as they age even more the costs only going one way

Very low cost of leasing or depreciated ownership means they're not that expensive, though they lack reliability with age. They are not much older than BA's B737 fleet and the same age as some of BA's B744s.
Jet2 seems to have a similar philosphy.

[partyboy_uk]

Not quite out of long haul completely but limited in scope. This summer, planned long haul includes:

1 weekly LGW/MBA
1 weekly LGW/TAB/GND
2 weekly MAN/SFB
2 weekly LGW/SFB
1 weekly NCL/SFB
1 weekly CWL/SFB
(& 3 single flights during height of summer GLA/SFB)

This is in fact an increase on last year when the A330 saw places such as AGP, ACE, LCA and SSH. The news to the company about the future shape of the Monarch network was that long haul was not in its immediate term plans and "in the medium term, Monarch Airlines’ longhaul strategy will be strengthened against the background of a fully developed shorthaul offering."

So, as you can see, long haul is not off the agenda altogether.

[Topspotter]

Problem is how are mon going to compete shorthaul nose to nose with the likes of ryanair, their operating costs must be far lower, i know who id rather fly with but at the end of the day for most its bang for the buck than matters

[partyboy_uk]

The plan is to market themselves at a customer base in the middle of Ryanair and BA - low cost but with add on frills available for purchase

[londonmet]

partyboy_uk,

You mean the plan announced last May, the one that's resulted in NOTHING changing?

[partyboy_uk]

You mean the plan announced last May, the one that's resulted in NOTHING changing?

Hey, don't shoot the messenger. That's not quite true anyway. A lot of what they said they were going to do they have in fact done: changed branding, interim tweaks to uniform and aircraft livery, new routes to Eastern Med, new crewing systems afoot, more changes in management I care to think about, iValue, iSuggest, Cosmos rebranding. They are the ones I can think of off the top of my head. Whether you think they have been effective or not is something different

[easyflyer83]

The plan is to market themselves at a customer base in the middle of Ryanair and BA - low cost but with add on frills available for purchase

A fairly wise move to make but then they run straight into Easyjet.

[Tight Seat]

easyJet between BA and Monarch, think I've just wet myself. Last time I suffered easy , it was more Dan Air than Speedbird.

[partyboy_uk]

Originally Posted by easyflyer83

A fairly wise move to make but then they run straight into Easyjet

Well yes, and I won't argue much with that. Although Monarch do offer pre-bookable meals and seats. They also have in flight entertainment on most flights over 3 hours (when available) and have announced that they intend to place Wifi onboard in the near future.

[MKY661]

Wifi onboard in the near future.

they were going to be the first UK airline to get it wern't they?

[CabinCrewe]

Dont BA have it on CWLCY A318 ?