Monarch - 3

[AirGuru]

Totally agree with everything you said caaardiff ! Well, we will see how the first conplete month of BCN ops with VY are performing on monday when the CAA stats are released. MON would be great at CWL !

[Facelookbovvered]

I think if ZB are serious about EMA they need to get a move on! Whilst i guess they don't have lots of spare crews or aircraft sitting around to sweep up ex baby routes and passengers, could they cut a deal with IAG to take the routes this summer using some ex baby aircraft & crews,re brand the aircraft that way the passenger booked to fly with baby during this Summer are far more likely to book with Monarch going into the winter and 2013 than starting afresh.

If you were booking now and had the choice of Jet2, FR or bmibaby for mid late Summer why on earth would you risk bmibaby? I would probably try Jet2 first followed by FR, can bmibaby hold on to its crews until mid September?

In Belfast bmibaby is fast being airbrushed out, all the city posters have gone, radio chopped, but the Summer med routes are still busy, yesterdays BHD -AGP looked around 130 and BHD ALC 120, not full but not bad for May

Can ZB take on Jet2 at EMA and hold their own?? if not i expect Jet2 will turn up at BHX next!

[TartinTon]

ZB tend to outperform Jet2 where they are head-to-head. When J2 turned up at MAN people said the same things. ZB only grew their capacity from that point on. The question is what damage will be done to Jet 2, first at EMA and potentially later on at LBA...could be interesting.....

[horatio_b]

I suppose it depends how you define "outperform"
In passenger numbers, Monarch might be ahead, but Jet2 are a profitable
airline, whilst Monarch have been struggling financially.

[renort]

When the focus becomes 'doing damage' to a competitor, it stops being about profit. How much longer did FM say he would sustain losses?

[New T2 Office]

He didn't...............instead he and his fellow shareholders accepted the 2yr plan put forward by the board, which fortunately after Q2, is 'bang in line' with preset targets

[clamour_kid]

Monarch To Sharm El-Sheik

Hi, this is my first post on here, so please be gentle on me.

I am due to fly with Monarch on 2nd June from Manchester to Sharm on flight number ZB 684. I know this will be on an A300-600.

I will admit, I am a very anxious flyer and research everything in an attempt to calm my nerves, but my active mind tends to over analyse things and selfishly apply negative thoughts to myself and the situation I am going to be in.

I know the A300-600 is an old plane and out of production (does that matter from a safety perspective?) and I know they have a sensitive rudder etc. I guess pilot training should take care of that, but my question is regarding the plane itself from a passenger's perspective. How comfortable and relaxing is it? I have booked the premium leg room seats too.

Also, one strange thing I have noticed is that, by tracking the flights on my flight tracker app on my iPhone, the Saturday morning flight is always delayed by 4 or 5 hours and then noticed that it is because it is awaiting the arrival of the A300-600 from Palma that morning.

2 questions: 1. Aren't there enough planes to go around at Monarch? 2. Why schedule a flight in for 10am when you know that the plane you will be using only arrives from another destination at 12:55?

Also, are there any A300-600 pilots on here that want to reassure me about flying and the quality of these planes.

Thanks in advance.

[jamesferns]

Im not surprised ZB outperform jet 2 tartin, its without doubt a far superior product , all things being equal why on earth would you choose jet 2 over ZB?

[ManUtd1999]

The battle with Jet2 will be key for Monarchs future. They are trying to put themselves into the 'between Ryanair and BA' market, but this is a hugely congested area. Fuel prices have put an end to the days of true low-cost flying (even Ryanair don't really offer £1 flights etc now and once other fees are added in fares below £50 are rare). Easyjet have successfully operated 'one level up' from Ryanair and Jet2 have seen good growth with a combination of charter and low (ish) cost flying. Their superior route networks surely give them an advantage over Monarch. Monarch do have a strong brand, but you wonder whether 3+ airlines can realistically compete for the same customers.

[compton3bravo]

Got to disagree to say that there is no really ´low cost´flying left any more. Depends on what you mean by low cost. To my mind if you book well in advance and play the game so to speak - i.e. no bags, meals etc. there is still great value around. Just did a Gib-Luton return with Monarch for 78 pounds including all taxes and charges and no c/c fees (used debit). I would say that was pretty good value in anyone´s book and given an extra leg room seat on the inbound leg!

[Mr A Tis]

Well ZB did not have a very good Sunday at MAN. Several flights delayed 2hrs+ and I think the BCN was about 7 hours late.
Whereas LS were all mostly on time with their Amy Johnson fleet.
They both have ups and downs & I wouldn't put one any higher than the other TBH.

[Jonnyf]

New East mid and Birmingham flights now on sale

[MKY661]

On post 633 here i have posted all the routes so they will work on Flightradar24 when they start. If I have missed any please let me know

New routes to FR24 database - Page 64

Thanks and hope the new routes go well.

[Daza]

MON BHX-NCE

New and additional flights from Birmingham Airport will start from 20th July 2012 and include the following services:
• Nice* - Daily flights
• Malaga – 4 additional weekly flights (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays)
• Barcelona* - 4 weekly flights (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays)
• Majorca – 3 additional weekly flights (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays)
• Alicante – 3 additional weekly flights (Mondays, Tuesdays and Sundays)
• Faro – 2 additional weekly flights (Thursdays and Saturdays)
• Rome – 2 additional weekly flights (Mondays and Wednesdays)
• Dalaman – 1 additional weekly flight (Fridays)
• Ibiza – 1 additional weekly flight (Wednesdays)
• Tenerife – 1 additional weekly flight (Saturdays)

Fantastic news! Daily Nice too.

[Direct VTB]

So possibly 7 more a/c this winter taking it up to 35.....

[MKY661]

Thats a lot! The problem is where are they going to get them from. Only one I can think of is TOM.

[Mr @ Spotty M]

Somebody can not count, l make the current fleet at 32 aircraft.
So two a/c are due to leave around November, which brings the number down to 30.
So if your number is correct and nothing is on going that l am aware of, you have 5 a/c to add.

[harer92]

With all of these new routes up and coming, along with an 320 and AB6 leaving this year, does anyone not agree that Monarch are spreading themselves a bit too thin?

Anywho, what are the current numbers of aircraft based at each of the MON bases and what type are they?

Great to hear new routes being launched - especially Munich, Friedrichstafen and Grenoble! Shame that MAN is not recieving flights to Nice or Madeira!!! Maybe Winter 2012/13 or Summer 2013. Afterall other bases did receive new destinations within weeks/months after the influx of pax that MON saw on newly announced 'italian job' routes.

[JackRalston]

MON5479 emergency

ZB5479 (MON5479) MXP-BHX A320 GOZBX - declared mayday over English Channel, rapid descent to FL100, continuing to Birmingham now still at FL100, must of been rapid decompression? Hope everyone is ok.

[Mr A Tis]

Harer - could not agree more on the MAN routes. Why they picked MAN-MUC I don't know. Luftie do it 3 x a day, Easy do it 6 x a week & not to mention a daily 777 of Singapore. I'm sure there are other destinations that are not as well served as this one.