Monarch - 3
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That makes sense. Cease the flying that has been the bread and butter for the company, keeping it afloat for over 40 years, and focus on the operations that have dragged it into the mire.
There is still a market for charter operations, the number of charter flights from the UK has actually increased this Summer. I guess we'll be seeing a few extra Germania and Small Planet aircraft knocking about at LGW next Summer.
There is still a market for charter operations, the number of charter flights from the UK has actually increased this Summer. I guess we'll be seeing a few extra Germania and Small Planet aircraft knocking about at LGW next Summer.
That makes sense. Cease the flying that has been the bread and butter for the company, keeping it afloat for over 40 years, and focus on the operations that have dragged it into the mire.
Reading both the reports in Travel Weekly it seams clear the airline wants / needs to reduce costs, become more efficient, more focused on one market segment, and most importantly I think the stated aim is not to chase growth. Consolidation on a lower cost base, and getting better revenues by reducing seat availability looks to me like a very good plan. One benefit on not being publicly quoted with external shareholders after a fast buck, is that you can admit to not chasing growth without spooking the markets.
Long haul appears to have had it's day too.
The "new brooms" look as though they have seen what Flybe has been able to do, and to be following a rather similar course, though in a somewhat different market. I'd be fairly confident they have a good plan which will succeed, and that should keep Mr. Mantegazza in Maybachs for a while to come!
Join Date: Jul 2003
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Cooks don't charter Monarch from LBA...they buy seats on the scheduled services.....the complication is that it looks like Monarch haven't made up their mind if they are going to offer LBA as a base for next year as yet as nothing is on sale
Join Date: May 2006
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Probably the Germania's and Small Planets with lower costs, that are squeezing Monarch away from the charter market.
The press reports read two ways. Either Monarch is in trouble or the existing owners want some fresh investment and business acumen on board.
The press reports read two ways. Either Monarch is in trouble or the existing owners want some fresh investment and business acumen on board.
Join Date: Dec 2012
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Can someone remind me--what exactly is a charter these days? Is it a whole planeload sold off to a single operator who then takes the risk on selling the seats? In commercial terms, is there really much difference between that and tour operators buying blocks of seats with MON selling the rest direct? I can see there's some difference in where the risk lies and therefore what the price has to be but is it significant?
Join Date: Aug 2004
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I think the reasoning would be that it gives them flexibility over their yield. Tour ops sometimes dump their unused seating into the market below what they paid for them. With better management, and tour operators taking more modest allocations Monarch will be able to sell the remaining seats at a representative cost.
Join Date: Aug 2014
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From ZB's website, EMA gets the chop...
MONARCH AIRLINES TO STOP FLYING FROM EAST MIDLANDS BASE IN 2015
Luton, UK – 14th August, 2014 – Monarch Airlines today announces that it will cease flying from its base at East Midlands Airport by the end of April 2015.
The decision to close the base is part of a strategic review under the leadership of Andrew Swaffield, who was recently appointed Chief Executive of The Monarch Group. Through a review of its network strategy, the Airline is focussing on offering customers greater flight frequency and more sociable departure times to short-haul European destinations from its main UK bases. These changes are already reflected in Monarch’s summer 2015 schedule, much of which is already on sale. The Airline expects to add more flights to its programme for next summer in the coming months.
The change is part of the next phase in Monarch’s transformation to become a scheduled European low-cost carrier. Monarch aims to complete the transition in advance of the arrival of its new narrow-bodied aircraft fleet of thirty Boeing 737 MAX8s, announced last month, which are expected to start entering service in 2018.
Andrew Swaffield, Chief Executive of The Monarch Group, commented:“I would like to thank all our customers who have used Monarch’s services at East Midlands Airport in the two years that we have been there. I would also like to pay tribute to our employees for all that they have done to bring the warmth, humanity and personal touch that should be our hallmark to our services at East Midlands Airport.”
“Monarch’s success in the future depends upon us delivering the best possible operation and quality of service for our customers – and at sustainable levels of profitability. It is for these reasons that we are taking important decisions to reshape our base network and flying schedule next year.
“As holiday habits change, our customers want a greater choice of flight times and destinations – particularly for short breaks. As we evolve from our roots in charter flying to become a scheduled European low-cost carrier we are becoming more focussed in the services we offer which we believe will provide customers overall with a more attractive flying schedule in the future.”
Monarch’s base at Birmingham is the nearest alternative for customers used to flying with the Airline from East Midlands Airport and is only 37 road miles away. Monarch has recently launched its schedule for summer 2015 from Birmingham.
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I would have thought LBA would be the next pulled given the LS/RYR competition. It depends on if a 2 ac base is cost effective. I hope they stay but it is looking ominous given nothing on sale yet.
Interesting Leeds is still not on sale for S15....two aircraft...same competitors as EMA. Must be a worry for anyone based in Yorkshire.
This could also suggest that the 2 units being lost from EMA might be moved into LBA, making a bigger, more efficient base - or alternatively BHX, MAN, LTN or LGW getting extra units, with more routes / frequencies to be announced in due course.
All conjecture - as I have absolutely no inside knowledge!!
Join Date: Aug 2012
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So at EMA you have:
RYR reporting good passenger figures and are constantly expanding
LS reporting good passenger figures and are constantly expanding
BE reporting good figures and are expanding routes
BMI reporting good figures and are expanding
TOM reporting good figures and are expanding
TCX reporting good figures
The Airport being flagged as being of National Strategic Importance for expansion
The Airport being raised in the House of Commons as a strong Airport with an excellent future
Total Passenger figures up by 4-5% so Pax clearly want to Fly EMA
Revenue up 7% with profit now better than pre-recession
Passenger figures getting back towards the all-time high
MON always have high passenger load factors on their 'All scheduled' route program, all routes at all times are popular (even the late night IBZs), good OTP, rarely have any problems.
But yet MON are pulling out of EMA and ONLY EMA....
RYR reporting good passenger figures and are constantly expanding
LS reporting good passenger figures and are constantly expanding
BE reporting good figures and are expanding routes
BMI reporting good figures and are expanding
TOM reporting good figures and are expanding
TCX reporting good figures
The Airport being flagged as being of National Strategic Importance for expansion
The Airport being raised in the House of Commons as a strong Airport with an excellent future
Total Passenger figures up by 4-5% so Pax clearly want to Fly EMA
Revenue up 7% with profit now better than pre-recession
Passenger figures getting back towards the all-time high
MON always have high passenger load factors on their 'All scheduled' route program, all routes at all times are popular (even the late night IBZs), good OTP, rarely have any problems.
But yet MON are pulling out of EMA and ONLY EMA....
Last edited by Burnie5204; 14th Aug 2014 at 16:36. Reason: bad sppellins
I guess the new MD thinks there isn't a future at EMA with all the other similar operators and that MON should concentrate on BHX & MAN.
They say a 'new broom sweeps clean', but in this case will MON be leaner and cleaner? Time will tell.
They say a 'new broom sweeps clean', but in this case will MON be leaner and cleaner? Time will tell.