Guys I think a lot of people here are writing to try and to convince themselves that Monarch is a stable job. The truth is no company apart from a few majors and EZY/RYR is. That's how I see it.
Of course no company is safe from downturns and even bankrupcies, but let's face it these are the facts, we like it or not.

Having said that I agree a smaller company can give you easier rosters/some benefits/change of fleet possibly. All of this comes to a price though, which is stability.
Especially if you are based in the UK the bigger companies are probably a worse package compared to Monarch and some of the smaller airlines, this is if you don't take into account job stability.
If you talk mainland Europe there is no comparison even in 100 years. But this is a different story.

I don't mean to be negative or to support any particular business model, it's just the way I see it after 15 years in this job, and after a couple of economy crises. So for you with families and commitments think long and hard before leaving even the future possibility of a permanent contract in one of the biggest and most profitable companies in Europe.

Monarch, while not immune, is somewhat protected by its private financial set up and they seem to be happy to add funds so that the airline can change its emphasis from Charter to scheduled carrier.Because of this, IMHO Monarch will outlive all the current competition if its business plan holds water. I should certainly prefer them as an employer and you could conceivably build a long term career there. The problem for the loco's, which is yet to be addressed, is what they do when their market reaches maturity and saturation. The SW Airlines business model seems to only allow for constant growth on the back of low profit/high turnover, many predict that when RYR and ESY are the only players left they will have to feed off each other until only the leanest survives. This may take many years, but the fallout for the pilots will be a constant downward pressure on T&Cs, which I should not fancy if I was looking forward to 30 or so years of employment.
I fully admit to having to having fingers crossed!

[QUOTE]This may take many years, but the fallout for the pilots will be a constant downward pressure on T&Cs, which I should not fancy if I was looking forward to 30 or so years of employment./QUOTE]

That is happening now, in every airline. It doesn't matter if you work for Ezy, Monarch or Air Bhutan. Monarch's big problem has always been the potential withdrawal of funding from Don Corleone. It would be bad news it they ever did go as they are one of the only decent airlines left that offer reasonable entry terms and conditions for First Officers. My punt for the future is Monarch being consumed by a leaner bigger outfit when the funding from the olive oil company dries up.

It is looking increasingly likely that there will be several airline failures in the next 18 months as the euro-zone staggers through a deep recession or goes pop entirely. I imagine Monarch will survive in some form or another.

Sorry about the earlier typo. I too hope the revised Business Plan is a success. If it is not, however, Monarch will be at the mercy of its backer.

Well, after 27 years in this job let me offer a different perspective.

327 payrolls, and not a single one of them was ever as much as one day late.

A family brought up on the back of an excellent salary, pension scheme, allowances, health benefits and insurance programme.

Nearly three decades of full time unbroken employment.

Sickness that didn't result in the loss of any salary, ever.

Compassionate leave that meant picking up a phone and speaking to the chief pilot. An airline that provided me with airline tickets and hotels and as much time off as I needed without question.

Opportunities for a variety of flying.

This is a private company and as any of you who have your own private companies know, profits (on which taxes are assessed) are rarely ever spectacular. Losses are always extremely unwelcome, however they can be carried forward and utilised to good effect. I am only aware of this company making losses in two years of its 43 year history. There is an intensive programme to reverse these losses and expand the business. The shareholders and the employees are all as committed as ever to ensuring the business resumes its strong position in the market.

It is true that you never know what is around the corner, but it is also true that a lot of "big strong" companies have crashed out of the game in the last three decades. This is a relatively small business (in airline terms) but owned by a few very wealthy people. It is a private company that sits within a portfolio of other private companies thereby spreading their risk.

If it is not for you, then don't apply. But you would be very foolish to underestimate the strength and commitment of the business, as well as the loyalty and commitment of those who are a part of it.

If it's so great and the management and owners are so altruistic why do you have such notoriously strong union membership? It sounds like a waste of money given you have such trust in the company, it's leaders and their generosity.

Only 2 years of losses in 42? Yes but they were both recently and it's already accepted that 2012 will be another loss making year.

Because a well-supported union enjoying a good relationship with management can only be an asset to both sides. The two best examples here being BA and Monarch.

Is the application window still open?

I can't see it on the site any more. Looks like I/we might have missed the boat.

Have a look at post #192 and #193 in this topic.

B&B

You sound like someone I knew at EZY...... His name was Warwick, I think you'd get on well

Bergholt................Business plan going fine thanks.

Those of us within MON who received the emails from our ops director on friday and our group chairman earlier today will obviously already know this

:D:D

Application done, at least as far as I can tell with the online system. Any guesses as to when people will start to hear something?

I came out of the RAF at the end of 1978. I had two airlines on my list that I really wanted to work for. One was Laker and the other one was Monarch. At the time Monarch had an age limit and I was too old by a year. Just for a laugh, I sent the chief pilot a poem about being one year too old and thought no more about it.

A week later, I received a poem from the chief pilot of Monarch which started:

"There's a little portakabin
Just north of Luton Hoo...."

I was invited for an interview the result of which was an offer of a job on their BAC 1-11 fleet.

In the end, I went to Laker on the DC-10. (The best job offer I got money-wise was Britannia).

In 2003 I bumped into one of my old RAF friends in the old Excelsior at Manchester airport. He told me that today was his 25th anniversary of working for Monarch and that he had loved every minute of it. I was amazed. By then I had about 25 uniforms from failed airlines in my wardrobe at home.

Monarch has always been a special place to work and the likes of Bed and Breakfast really couldn't tell a cow's arse from a banjo when it comes to recognising good places to work.

I wasn't too good at it either!

JW411, wonderful story, would that have been dear old DR? Or maybe it was a little before his time as Chief pilot


Shame you didnt join us..........

It would've been the late great Jack B, who was also not averse to dropping the odd bit of Latin into the ops manual ... Mutatis Mutandi is one that sticks in the memory. The Don took over as chief pilot designate in January 1979.

JW411 the difference is that you:

1. Are from a different era
2. Made your choices on the basis of your heart (and had 25 uniforms as a result) whilst I am trying to make mine with my head. I'll agree neither are particularly rational methods.
3. Read too much on here as a 'signal' when in fact much of it is 'noise'.

Time will tell all and it will come soon enough.

Pray tell BlackandBrown,

come soon enough......

25 days
25 weeks
25 months
or 25 years.......

I don't have a crystal ball, maybe in 8 months, maybe never.

Are you still happy at monarch? Have you always been?

No, I didn't think so!

Your ( plural not personal ) temporary blip of thinking Monarch are the best paid, best thing since sliced bread is very capricious. It's the mood of the moment.

Monarch is a company rife with negative not positive optionality. The much bleated on about 'electronic flight bag' isn't exactly monarchs 'iPhone moment'.

Black and Brown
 

Young Man,you are starting to appear like some one who is still wet behind the ears.Easy are a reasonable company,but do'nt put them on the same level as Monarch. Easy are cheap and cheerful and their shareholders will have no second thoughts about laying off staff if the results turn bad
JW was NOT living in the past he was speaking from experience