MONARCH, which claims to be Britain”s oldest airline operating under its original name, is to expand its Luton scheduled operations.
From May 2007 the airline is to fly to Ibiza with up to five flights per week, Almeria, four flights per week whilst Palma goes from a single weekly rotation to nine flights. Faro will be daily.
In all Monarch will serve 11 destinations from the north London airport, seven of which where they are the sole operator. As managing director Tim Jeans put it at a press conference last week, Monarch likes to think of itself ”as a cut above” other low cost airlines in terms of its cabin service and what it has on offer.
Well over 60% of Monarch passengers are thought to be overseas home owners, or travellers to properties abroad.
With many clients travelling as much as six or seven times per year the airline”s Vantage Club, with its free entry and many benefits, is proving very popular.
Monarch Scheduled expects to handle 3m passengers this year, a 20% increase over 2005.
Monarch currently has a fleet of seven Boeing 757, a single 767, a pair of Airbus A330, 13 Airbus A320 series and four A300.
According to Mr Jeans by 2009 the airline will be looking towards more standardisation of the fleet and the replacement of the A300s. Tim Jeans does a good impersonation of France soccer coach Raymond Domenech.
http://www.flymonarch.com