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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/02/monarch-airlines-flights-cancelled-as-airline-goes-into-administration
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| Monarch Airlines flights cancelled as airline goes into administration | Monarch Airlines flights cancelled as airline goes into administration |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Monarch Airlines has been placed into administration and all flights from the UK have been cancelled and will not be rescheduled, accountants KPMG said on Sunday night. | Monarch Airlines has been placed into administration and all flights from the UK have been cancelled and will not be rescheduled, accountants KPMG said on Sunday night. |
| The Civil Aviation Authority said it had launched a programme to bring 110,000 Monarch Airlines customers back to the UK in response to the airline being placed into administration, which also leaves 300,000 future bookings cancelled. It is being called Britain’s biggest ever airline collapse. | The Civil Aviation Authority said it had launched a programme to bring 110,000 Monarch Airlines customers back to the UK in response to the airline being placed into administration, which also leaves 300,000 future bookings cancelled. It is being called Britain’s biggest ever airline collapse. |
| The CAA said it had been asked by the government to charter more than 30 aircraft to bring the passengers back to the UK after the airline failed to renew a crucial licence. All Monarch customers who are abroad and due to return to the UK in the next two weeks will be flown home at no extra cost and they do not need to cut short their stay, according to the regulator. | The CAA said it had been asked by the government to charter more than 30 aircraft to bring the passengers back to the UK after the airline failed to renew a crucial licence. All Monarch customers who are abroad and due to return to the UK in the next two weeks will be flown home at no extra cost and they do not need to cut short their stay, according to the regulator. |
| The CAA chief executive, Andrew Haines, said: “We know that Monarch’s decision to stop trading will be very distressing for all of its customers and employees. This is the biggest UK airline ever to cease trading, so the government has asked the CAA to support Monarch customers currently abroad to get back to the UK at the end of their holiday at no extra cost to them. | |
| “We are putting together, at very short notice and for a period of two weeks, what is effectively one of the UK’s largest airlines to manage this task. The scale and challenge of this operation means that some disruption is inevitable. We ask customers to bear with us as we work around the clock to bring everyone home.” | “We are putting together, at very short notice and for a period of two weeks, what is effectively one of the UK’s largest airlines to manage this task. The scale and challenge of this operation means that some disruption is inevitable. We ask customers to bear with us as we work around the clock to bring everyone home.” |
| Customers affected by the company’s collapse have been urged to check a dedicated website – monarch.caa.co.uk – for advice and information on flights back to the UK. It also gives information to those passengers that have future bookings with Monarch but are yet to leave the UK. | |
| The government has warned passengers to expect disruption and delays as it works to ensure there are enough flights to return the “huge number” of passengers. | |
| Commenting on the “extraordinary operation”, the transport secretary, Chris Grayling said: “This is a hugely distressing situation for British holidaymakers abroad – and my first priority is to help them get back to the UK. That is why I have immediately ordered the country’s biggest ever peacetime repatriation to fly about 110,000 passengers who could otherwise have been left stranded abroad. | Commenting on the “extraordinary operation”, the transport secretary, Chris Grayling said: “This is a hugely distressing situation for British holidaymakers abroad – and my first priority is to help them get back to the UK. That is why I have immediately ordered the country’s biggest ever peacetime repatriation to fly about 110,000 passengers who could otherwise have been left stranded abroad. |
| “Nobody should underestimate the size of the challenge, so I ask passengers to be patient and act on the advice given by the CAA.” | “Nobody should underestimate the size of the challenge, so I ask passengers to be patient and act on the advice given by the CAA.” |
| The CAA, the UK’s airline regulator, had been expected to announce on Monday whether Monarch would be able to continue selling package holidays. The low-cost airline and holiday company previously had a deadline of midnight on 30 September before its Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (Atol) expired. | The CAA, the UK’s airline regulator, had been expected to announce on Monday whether Monarch would be able to continue selling package holidays. The low-cost airline and holiday company previously had a deadline of midnight on 30 September before its Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (Atol) expired. |
| The firm was granted a 24-hour extension to the licence by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), until midnight on 1 October. | The firm was granted a 24-hour extension to the licence by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), until midnight on 1 October. |
| The announcement came just after midnight that Monarch would cease operating, with all flights cancelled. | The announcement came just after midnight that Monarch would cease operating, with all flights cancelled. |
| It was Monarch’s second such temporary extension in two years and followed a spotlight being shone on the carrier’s finances. | It was Monarch’s second such temporary extension in two years and followed a spotlight being shone on the carrier’s finances. |
| The licence allows the firm to sell Atol-protected holidays. The CAA confirmed over the weekend that Atol protection would remain available for eligible holiday bookings made with the airline on Sunday. | The licence allows the firm to sell Atol-protected holidays. The CAA confirmed over the weekend that Atol protection would remain available for eligible holiday bookings made with the airline on Sunday. |
| This is the biggest ever UK airline failure. The CAA and Government are working together to support #Monarch customers. pic.twitter.com/YsXrGdj5FB | This is the biggest ever UK airline failure. The CAA and Government are working together to support #Monarch customers. pic.twitter.com/YsXrGdj5FB |
| Monarch, whose headquarters are at London Luton Airport, was founded in 1968. It also operates from four other UK bases including London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds Bradford to more than 40 destinations around Europe and further afield. | Monarch, whose headquarters are at London Luton Airport, was founded in 1968. It also operates from four other UK bases including London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds Bradford to more than 40 destinations around Europe and further afield. |
| The company employs approximately 2,750 predominantly UK-based staff, its website states. | The company employs approximately 2,750 predominantly UK-based staff, its website states. |
| UK travel firms selling holidays and flights are required to hold an Atol, which protects customers with pre-booked holidays from being stranded abroad in the event of circumstances such as the company ceasing to trade. | UK travel firms selling holidays and flights are required to hold an Atol, which protects customers with pre-booked holidays from being stranded abroad in the event of circumstances such as the company ceasing to trade. |
| With the Press Association | With the Press Association |