Monarch Airlines - ceases operations

Monarch Airlines (UK) ceases operations

October 2nd 2017: Monarch, the subject of much financial scrutiny this last week, as well as in recent years, finally succumbed to what most industry observers and even Monarch insiders deemed the inevitable.

My one time Monarch experience...

8/20/05: Monarch Airlines ZB534 MAN -> PMI [A320 G-OZBB]

My itinerary commenced from my home airport (at the time) Santa Ana [John Wayne Airport / Orange County - yeah the airport had / has three names!] to San Jose, California. I spent a few days there at our 'weekend' home in Moss Beach (near Half Moon Bay) before departing to London 8/17/05 [SFO -> LHR United 777-200ER N786UA]. The real purpose of our trip was [sure say hi to England] but more importantly to vacation at my most favorite place in the world: Palma de Mallorca (NO, not Magaluf!).

Airbus A320 G-OZBB (original colors, with website address added)
Delivered 3/94, Retired 11/13 Tupelo, MS

This turned out to be my only trip on Monarch, who were more southern UK oriented than the north, although Manchester was always a key base too. This flight cemented the impression I had that Monarch was a very good airline. The attention to detail, the great food, the fab flight attendants...the list goes on. A class act...but at a time when class no longer had any relevance (when traveling by air). And that was then...2005. The fact Monarch lasted another 12 years defies all laws of aviation gravity.

For the record, we returned by BMI Baby PMI -> EMA (737-500 G-BVZE), LHR -> SFO (United 777-200ER N788UA), SJC -> SNA (Southwest 737-700 N779SW)

Monarch's problems in recent years have been well documented, and a selection of opinions and editorials will be added as links to this article. Otherwise, this post will pictorially look back at Monarch's rich history.

Monarch commenced service with a Bristol Britannia on April 5th 1968, with a charter flight from Luton to Madrid. Further Britannias were acquired in 1969 for a total fleet of six.

The jet age arrived for Monarch in 1971 with the purchase of ex-Northwest Boeing 720s

BAC 1-11s were added in the mid-70s for short haul operations

By the early 1980s 737-200s were added to the fleet to replace the 1-11s

The late 80s saw 737-300s arrive to replace the 737-200s

An early adopter of the 757, Monarch received it's first in 1983, with the aircraft finally retired in 2015

A pair of A300-600Rs were operated on high capacity Mediterranean routes, as well as to the United States and Caribbean

Single examples of the DC-10 and 767-300ER were also operated

DC-10 G-DMCA

767-300ER G-DIMB

Two A330-200s were a key part of the long haul fleet between 1999 and 2015

Following the retirement of all long haul aircraft, in recent years the fleet has been solely focused on A320s and A321s

A320 G-OZBW

A321 G-MARA

A single Boeing 737-800 was acquired this year, a prelude to Monarch's planned purchase of up to 45 737 MAX 8s, which were designated to replace the A320 family fleet starting in 2018.

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