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Trade expresses sadness about Monarch’s failure
The travel trade has expressed sadness over the news that Monarch has gone into administration.
AITO said Monarch had ‘been a friend to independent operators over many years’ and its chairman, Derek Moore, blamed ‘ridiculously-priced huge volume of flights’ from low cost carriers.
He said: "This will have been due, in all probability, available from the so-called ‘no frills’ carriers, which frequently sell flights at less than the cost of the aviation fuel that they consume.
"Gross over capacity has been created; this excessive number of flights on the market is the cause of Monarch’s demise. It is nothing whatsoever to do with Brexit."
He said today’s news was ‘a timely reminder – on top of Ryanair’s mass cancellations – that the best way to book a flight is as part of a package with a specialist tour operator’.
Former ABTA chairman and Advantage chief executive John McEwan said: "Very sorry to wake up to the news that Monarch Airlines has ceased flying. Thoughts are with the dedicated Monarch staff who have lost their jobs."
The Travel Network Group CEO Gary Lewis said: "It’s a very sad day for our industry. Monarch has had a long and successful history of operating in the UK travel industry for 50 years and we have always enjoyed a strong working relationship with the team there.
"In all my 22 years in the industry Monarch’s failure has to be in the top two [along with XL Airways] in terms of impact on the industry, not only on the trade but also consumer confidence."
Many travel agents posted on social media, including the Facebook site Travel Gossip, to express their sadness.
Jean Heathcote, who recently retired after 25 years as a travel agent, said: "This is the worst news for travel for a very long time."
Another said: "Very sad. Monarch always maintained excellent standards."
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Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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