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Monarch falls into administration

Monarch has now ceased trading with administrators from KPMG now appointed to Monarch Airlines Limited and Monarch Travel Group Limited.

As a result of the insolvency proceedings, Monarch Airlines is no longer able to fly as its Air Operating Certificate has been suspended. This means that all flights from the UK, operated by Monarch Airlines, and all future holidays booked with Monarch Travel Group, are now cancelled and will not be rescheduled.

Passengers due to fly with Monarch from the UK are advised not to travel to their airport, unless they have booked alternative arrangements.

All Monarch flights to the UK today and for the next two weeks will be replaced with alternative flights, organised by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) with assistance from the administrators and employees of the company. They will be coordinating the repatriation of 110,000 Monarch customers who are currently overseas and who are scheduled to fly to the UK over the next two weeks at no cost to them. These customers are advised to not travel to the airport until they have seen confirmation of their new flight on monarch.caa.co.uk

This dedicated website also contains details of how customers can apply for refunds. Two help lines have also been set up for customers in the UK (0300 303 2800) and customers overseas (+44 1753 330330).

The vast majority of holidaymakers? arrangements will be covered through different types of financial protection (including credit and some debit card schemes) and they will either be entitled to a refund, or if they?ve booked through another travel company, they should contact them to discuss options which may include re-booking or alternative arrangements.

Blair Nimmo, partner at KPMG and joint administrator to the companies, said: ?Mounting cost pressures and increasingly competitive market conditions in the European short-haul market have contributed to the Monarch Group experiencing a sustained period of trading losses. This has resulted in Management appointing us as administrators in the early hours of this morning.

?Our primary focus for the next 48 hours is to work with the Civil Aviation Authority to provide the infrastructure and information needed to help the Government and CAA with the safe repatriation of approximately all the 110,000 customers who are currently overseas and due to travel back to the UK within the next two weeks. This includes all those whose trip is not specifically covered by ATOL protection. The CAA has provided funding to enable the Group to retain a number of employees to assist us with the provision of this information.

?We understand that this will be a difficult and distressing time for many, and we anticipate a large volume of calls and queries from customers who are affected. We therefore kindly request that passengers who are not scheduled to travel within the next 48 hours to refer to the CAA website in the first instance for further information. This will allow us to assist the CAA and prioritise to ensure the safe repatriation of all customers located overseas who were scheduled for immediate travel back to the UK.?

Further information can be found at monarch.caa.co.uk and kpmg.co.uk/monarch



Travel Bulletin

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