Monarch - 3

[ATNotts]

Originally Posted by TartinTon

I suspect most of the rank and file would have absolutely no idea that this was in the offing so no point in castigating them

If people don't know, they should keep their gobs shut, and their figures off the keyboard.

[FANS]

Assuming these are just rumours, it will now impact their business as it's the first thing that comes up on google.

Monarch tweeting "it simply isn't true" is not working.

[Airbanda]

This is the internet and social media at it's very worst!! Will the people who are posting in various fora feel any twinges of guilt if the result is hundreds of people being put out of work as a result of unfounded rumours??

It seems beyond doubt that several large a\c have been chartered by UK authorities and handling/flight plans lodged consistent with returning stranded people to UK.

It might relate to any ATOL bonded operator but given size of a\c and their operating pattern it is not a small outfit for historians or birdwatchers.

We will know at 07:00 tomorrow when market etc announcements need to be made.

Unfounded rumours can kill a grounded/wellfinanced business in days but not hours.

[GingerC]

Their handling company at Gatwick is Aviator. They handle a large number of other airlines there too, and they are rumoured to be in a less than ideal financial position. But why on earth would anyone need to move a 747 load of ground staff from Tenerife or Palma to the UK to deal with this, and would there be enough to spare anyway? Aviator's staff are still there. If the company has gone bust, the staff can be taken on by one of the other ground handling companies at Gatwick, and life goes on.

[FANS]

No market announcement needs to be made. They are not listed.

There's nothing stopping them posting a press release now.

Or better still, the CAA posting one.

[Izzarch]

Quick look on the Flight Radar App. And all current Monarch flights are returning to the UK, no outbounds. Surely not coincidence....

[eggc]

Sure there are 3 more due to leave MAN/BHX and LGW to IBZ before midnight. Mind you they will all be back by 0600, before the morning wave is due to leave - so entire fleet will be in the UK at this time. I hope we wake in the morning to the real reason for these events and Monarch still exist.

[caaardiff]

Monarch Airlines strongly denies rumours it's in financial trouble after social media speculation - Manchester Evening News

Still being denied by Monarch, although not very convincingly! You'd think they'd get straight on this with a very clear message it's not true. No official announcement on Twitter or the website.
Something definitely is up and it could really hurt them if it's not true.

Rumours inside Monarch that it is to do with their handling company going bust in BHX / LGW and the flights are mostly to get replacement staff to those airports to handle their flights. Either situation it means a large number of staff feeling worried over the next few days by the speculation.

I also read about this on another forum. If true then that's a bizarre way of resolving the situation. No Airport could spare that many staff to warrant 747's! Handling agents workers will have slightly more security as Airlines still need to be handled. Most will transfer to the new handling agent.

I just don't get why all this would be pre-planned. If the Airline is being shut down, Could ZB not be forced to repatriate their own customers on their own aircraft? It doesn't seem like they are bankrupt so have no way and funding the repatriation flights.

[CCGE29]

If it was a cruise company that had gone out of business then why couldn't Monarch just release a statement about it. Just replying to people's tweets is just unconvincing.

[ATNotts]

Just stepping back slightly, flight only bookings are surely not covered by a CAA bond, that's only for packages where an ATOL is required. Monarch's business is in the main flight only airline bookings, plus some brokered seat sales to tour operators.

I can't see, therefore why the CAA would be involved in chartering aircraft. Have I missed something here?

[Jetaway]

Well if both Monarch and Aviator go bust its going to be one hell of a fun week at MAN/BHX/LGW

[VickersVicount]

All very curious. If it was to take out handling staff, why are the aircraft ferrying out empty to destinations and on 747's? Sounds more like a large shift of passengers. Only time will tell. ZB has lost its way a bit but is an institution and I feel sorry for anyone *** if*** this comes to anything

[Trash 'n' Navs]

Easier to believe their handler is in trouble - margins are very tight for them. Consider too the careful wording of their statement "has nothing to do with Monarch".

Or maybe their handler has served notice on ZB...

[janeyTA]

flight only bookings are surely not covered by a CAA bond, that's only for packages where an ATOL is required

Monarch flight only are Atol bonded.

[MKY661]

Can confirm G-OZBZ & G-ZBAL at LGW have not parked at remote stands (though one will do IBZ tonight). Source is FR24.

[FANS]

This rumour, which has grown and grown, is now leading to questions about Monarch's survival - i.e. as serious as it gets.

To have the company only respond by its twitter account manager ">GH" is not right.

[Mr Angry from Purley]

Airliners.net has a list of aircraft in around Europe that if true looks v worrying. I'm hoping its just a bad rumour

[NorthernChappie]

Website is still allowing bookings. Either very naughty or nothing up ?

[aileron]

From Airliners.net #102
5 minutes ago

guys - Monarch flights and seats are sold by First Aviation, at the end of SEPT the ATOL is due for renewal and that means a new bond is needed, that bond would be for more than GBP 5m. Greybull won't want to tie up that much working capital and as the airline has not been sold as a going concern, partly due to brevet concerns for a UK AOC and what it can and can't do after brexit, then the logical choice will be to shut the airline down prior to start of new ATOL year.

Sorry to say it but once the planes are airborne from IBZ, they will shut the airline down.

The aircraft in place are to be used for passengers to be repatriated, This is much better planned than the XL failure. All will become clear tomorrow AM.

[caaardiff]

26/09 UA2281 PMI BHX 1120 1255
26/09 MON951 PMI BHX 1120 1255

27/09 UA2285 PMI MAN 1100 1245
27/09 MON533 PMI MAN 1100 1245

28/09 UA2286 ALC LGW 1210 1350
28/09 MON263 ALC LGW 1200 1340

29/09 UA2281 ALC LGW 1330 1510
29/09 MON263 ALC LGW 1330 1510

Air Transat A330-200 positioning to MAN 1425 tomorrow
Omni Air - N819AX - OY819 - 777 - currently in BCN operating BCN-LGW
Omni Air - N477AX - OY477 - DFW to NAP - 767-300ER
Omni Air - N207AX - OY207 - DFW to LGW - 767-200ER
United Airlines - N120UA - UA2295 - ORD to TFS - 747-400
United Airlines - N116UA - UA2292 - ORD to PMI - 747-400

Talk now of Air Transat A310 and another UA 747 to come across the pond.
What's strange is why would TS be at MAN and OY207 & 819 be at LGW if they are repatriation flights? Wouldn't they all be down route ready?

According to AENA.ES:
OY819 1145 BCN-LGW. ZB flights from BCN tomorrow 1100 BHX, 1145 MAN, 1945 MAN, 2030 LBA and 2130 LGW. Why would Omni operate to LGW when the only flights at that time are to BHX and MAN?
UA 747 TFS not listed yet on TFS page. ZB flights from TFS tomorrow 1120 BHX, 1955 MAN and 2000 LGW
UA 747 PMI 1120 PMI-BHX. ZB flights from PMI tomorrow 1020 LGW, 1100 MAN, 1120 BHX
TS A330 not listed on AGP page. LTN, MAN and BHX flights midday and BHX MAN and LGW in evening.