Flights Cancelled as Monarch Ceases Trading

Monarch Airlines has ceased trading, meaning 300,000 future bookings for flights and holidays have been cancelled, the Civil Aviation Authority has said.

Around 110,000 customers are currently overseas and the government has asked the CAA to charter more than 30 planes to bring them back to the UK. Transport Secretary Chris Grayling called the process the UK's "biggest ever peacetime repatriation."

Monarch employs about 2,100 people and posted a loss of £291m last year. The airline is the UK's fifth biggest and the country's largest ever to collapse. It was placed into administration at 4:00 this morning – a time when there were no Monarch planes in the air.

Passengers were then sent text messages informing them their flights had been cancelled. It is thought the cancellations could affect up to 750,000 people.

Commenting on the "extraordinary operation," 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."

If your flight has been cancelled or delayed, call our Manchester team to find out if you could be owed compensation. Speak to us today on 0161 795 4818.

HSK Solicitors

Flight Claim Solicitors