Member Article

CAA tasked with bringing 110,000 Brits home as Monarch Airlines collapses

Monarch Airlines has ceased trading with immediate effect, leaving 110,000 customers overseas and in the region of 300,000 future bookings cancelled.

Responding to the crisis, which stands as the UK’s largest ever airline to enter administration, the Government has asked the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to charter more than 30 aircrafts to bring back to Monarch’s overseas customers.

Those due to fly home in the next fortnight will be brought back to the UK at no cost to them with the government telling flyers ‘there is no need to cut short your stay’.

Moreover, Monarch customers in the UK who are yet to travel have been strictly told to not go to airports as there will categorically be no more Monarch flights.

Andrew Haines, Chief Executive of the CAA, 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 urge people affected by the company’s collapse to check our 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.”

Have you been affected? Here’s how you can get help

The CAA has a dedicated website monarch.caa.co.uk, which is the best source of advice and information for affected customers, and a 24 hour helpline (0300 303 2800 from in the UK and Ireland, and +44 1753 330330 from overseas) to provide additional assistance.

Customers currently overseas should check monarch.caa.co.uk for confirmation of their new flight details which will be available a minimum of 48 hours in advance of their original departure time. This website will be frequently updated with the latest information.

Customers currently overseas shouldn’t go to the airport unless their flight back to the UK has been confirmed on monarch.caa.co.uk

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