I can also confirm what previous posters have said regarding imminent redundancies. I've had a few mates at Monarch on the phone over the last few days. Not good news.

Very very sad.

Very sad news for all, been there got the t shirt and it's not great. I hope those affected end up ok.

As an aside it will be of significance to all as to how the criteria for redundancy is set. In particular if seniority is bypassed for type and base.

Safe flying Monarch crews.

History repeating itself ?
 

This news about Monarch seemingly has many of the same elements that I witnessed (from within) just prior to the demise of Air Europe (UK) in March 1991.

If I was working at Monarch today, and they offered me a full redundancy / severance package, I'd take it. Much better that than to get $0.02's worth of f'all later on, i.e. when they go bust (all as happened at AE).

See also: Air Europe - Causes of it's collapse

Facelookbovvered
 

The LH crew don't just do LH flying they do mixed fleet flying, they are current on 320/1/330 no need for retraining.

BF
 

Thats good news then! what about the 757 pilots?

I would think that they either go to a320 or a321 or find another airline that operates 757's. They'll be missed a lot when they go. I hope Fed Ex have bought them but i have a feeling they might get chopped up.

They are type rated for Jet 2.

Isn't Thomson also hiring 757 rated pilots?

Really sad news, especially for an airline that has remained independent for over 45 years. I do hope they can find a way to weather this particular storm.
Just a thought, with so many pilots who have retired over the years, how do they stand re their pensions if the company either cease flying or are taken over?

Monarch
 

I still think, possibly thru rose tinted specs, that, maintaining a level of service be it only slightly above the other low cost operators, may attract the pax numbers Monarch could do with. I do think, a bare knuckle slog out with Easy, Ryan Air etc, is going to be very difficult indeed at best. Monarch always had & I think, still has a reputation, for that level of service which is above many other similar airlines & surely that should count for something.
Yes I have some interest in Monarch, it certainly had in my day, extremely proud, loyal & highly professional staff in all departments & this lead to very many happy & satisfied pax & other clients. Times do move on & it,s not easy out there, but with the right, honest, direct & honourable approach, I contend, Monarch will still be here in years to come.

Unfortunately, it seems to be on a par with the demise of GB. A good product, good service, well liked and well sold, but the power of the perceived 'low cost' airlines deprives the customers of real choice with inevitable consequences.
Having been in the same situation, I wish the crews and staff well.

Just seen a copy of the new terms to be imposed on the remaining flight crew. Shockingly severe reductions in terms and conditions...

And no I'm not going to post them as it's technically none of my business and no doubt a serving pilot will if they feel justified.

Shockingly severe reductions in terms of the current Ts and Cs or compared to the rest of the industry? Are they below the market averages?

Change of T&Cs to existing workforce is serious, and should help demotivate.

But if you're going to compete with the loco's you've got to.

What did people expect when one of the IAG hatchet men was put in post.
Mon have had too many changes at the top over the last 4 1/2 years.
Shame for the workers who have had to suffer, "lions led by donkeys".

I have just seen a rather flashy TV advert for 'Virgin Holidays' (I assume IT) to Florida. If they can continue to offer this service, as Monarch did with considerable success for quite a number of years, could Monarch not keep at least a toe hold here? I am not a business expert by any means, but surely, there are already, more than enough ultra lot cost operators, all slugging it out between themselves.

As sad and unpalatable as this is, management obviously have to knock the business into some sort of shape appealing to a potential buyer, the "contingency plan" with PWC doesn't bear thinking about.

Looks like they are not going to waste anytime in making changes, a friend who works for Monarch informs me that the consultancy period will be just 45day, so by mid October redundancy notices will be going out just in time for xmas

Of course this is neither deliberate or personal, more a factor of taking cost out before winter, but it hurst just the same.

If nothing else at least it shows they are serious about adjusting the cost base, i bet with the reduced conditions they will end up short for next summer, just at the time everyone else is hovering up pilots, what a bloody industry :sad::sad:

LNIDA
Believe some of the guys at the top (Not Flt Ops) have gone already

If MON make it through the winter of 2014 / 2015, I, for one, will be amazed !

All it'll take is a slight increase in fuel price and / or a downturn in passenger numbers and / or a hiccup in the world economy and / or a war a bit too close to home (go figure?!), and they'll be history (imho).

What we're seeing here is almost exactly the same scenario as happened to Air Europe (AEU) in 1990 / 1991. I.e. with pretty much all of the aforementioned items occurring, in a desperate attempt to stave off costs through the forthcoming winter, AEU, in the autumn of 1990 initiated staff layoffs and swathing cuts in the flying program. They then managed to keep going up 'til the 8th March 1991, at which point the Receiver was called in, much as a result of the collapse of AEU's parent company (ILG).. and, ok, yes, there's a bit more to it than all that, but that's basically the gist of it.

Imho, unless MON has incredibly deep cash reserves and / or access to a very generous line of credit, I rather suspect that this is going to be history repeating itself, I'm sad to say. :(

Old King Coal
 

I really hope your off the mark in your predictions

I did read in one of the paper that administration was not an option for the private owners.

I do however think your right that cash will pour out off the business this winter and with a planned? much smaller operation for next Summer then the opportunity to replenish will be diminished.

The thing i just can't get my head round is why they announced an order for 30 new aircraft just week before this broke, i know its only an MOI but there must have been an awful lot of work put into evaluating the various suitors vying for their business...what changed in a matter of weeks?

Monarch have had the support of a shareholder with deep pockets. If he is now not willing to keep plugging the gap, it's a very difficult situation.

If their game plan is to rival the loco s, I can't see it lasting long term.

Time will tell but airlines in a difficult spot soon find hedging, leasing and bonding a nightmare.

The owner said no after 45 years of saying yes.

More specifically, the Chairman, who had been bull!!!!!ting the owner, got found out...

Just a shame people who were calling this guy and his colleagues out several years ago got shouted down by those assuming billionaire owners meant job for life regardless of bums on seats or revenue generated. The rot started with Brown and sadly many people who have dealt with the senior management over the years have predicted just such an outcome as we see today. This is not an "I told you so" I really feel for those excellent staff who have been shafted. Highest paid director in the last accounts was £1m+ - go figure.

It is looking grim. I agree with Old King Coal . I was at AE for 12 years and packing my US clothes for the first MD11 course. Instead I wound up on the New Joiners Course for Dole & Income Support. Many of us, like OKC will be reminded of our own experiences. Eagle, Court, Laker, Channel , Oh and glorious Invicta. I was the first candidate for their sponsored pilot training programme and told to wait three months for developments. They went bust and I carried on loading bags at LGW for BUA. Look, sad, sickening experiences and all of us wish better times for our Monarch colleagues. It is not the fall but the getting up that will see you all re-establishing yourselves quickly.

A painful reminder that as Commercial Pilots, we are licensed by our Regulatory Authorities to operate for hire/reward. Stay loyal to the licensing Authority and not to what is painted on the side of an aircraft.

This is a serious situation that will rapidly deteriorate if new owners and their cash are not announced in due course.

Rest assured the staff will find out last what's really going on.

No more charter?
 

As already mentioned by Egon, the rot started a good few years ago when the Charter Department was moved over 80 miles away from the Head Office.

It really does beggar belief that mis-management and personal ego's have allowed THE charter Airline of the UK to slip into this mess. Claiming that there is no money in the charter model, and failing to maintain old relationships or move in the correct circles to secure new business is the real failure here.

Its obvious to see given the carriers operating in Monarch's back yard (a yard that they should have been controlling) that there is sound business still available in the UK which hasn't been exploited.

Charter / ACMI contracts currently in UK/Eire (excludes the 2 Air Contractors pax aircraft):

Norwegian 738 x 2 - Thomson
Germania 737 - Thomson
Germania A319 x 2 - mixed
Privilege 757 - Jet 2
A320 (YL- registered) - Cooks
TVS/Sunwing 738 - Cooks
Fly Dubai 738 x 3 - Ryanair
Air Explore 734 x 2 - Ryanair
Estonian E170 - mixed
Small Planet A320 - mixed
Titan A320 - EZY
Titan 757 - EZY

There 17 contracts above, 12 Aircraft to leave the fleet... surely someone should have been securing some of the above?

It sadens me that its come to this and wish all those that are being sold down the river the very best. I've heard the revised T&C's are severe to say the very least.

Usual upbeat message being trotted out by PPRuNe then! The doom-mongers hard at work as usual.

The fact is that Monarch has needed an unencumbered makeover to bring it properly into the 21st century for years. Seabury are in and see huge potential, as do several serious investors.

Come November, the changes will start. Come next May, the airline will be transformed.

At the expense of how many jobs though RA?!

People are in receipt of "at risk" letters now, I'm afraid redundancies will happen!

Change sometimes has to be painful. But there are many jobs out there and Monarch will do all it can with all of its excellent links within the industry to secure these opportunities for those pilots that must unfortunately leave for now, with an open door to come back with seniority if they wish in years to come.

Rushed approach, nice thought but unfortunately unlikely. We have had a lot of info that anybody could find in 10 mins in the Internet regarding jobs. Unlike TC and contacts/jobs with EK, we have a couple of email addresses at various airlines to send a cv.....as for returning on seniority that's not quite the reality. We may be able to come back, seniority hasn't been mentioned and to be honest whont really matter as we are about to have our T's and C's put in the bin....

Which email addresses have Monarch provided their excellent team with? One would hope that BA, easyJet, Jet2, DHL and Thomas Cook would all be able to find positions for the unlucky ones who will be seeking employment.

Seabury probably see huge potential for fees for themselves, as they are advisers rather than investors.

Monarch appear to have chosen to be become a smaller loco . The culture change required alone will be too much.

RA - you yourself couldn't see this coming

Just as an interesting aside...

The recent, and surprising to most, decision to go with the b737 order.... Is this order still in place.

If so it may give some insight into the future of Monarch.

Also is it possible the change of commercial direction was known before the aircraft order was made?

An order was never made. "Preferred bidder" was as far as it went.

Financial rhetoric ... Backfired slightly.

We'll see.