Monarch Airlines goes into administration

Monarch Airlines has gone into administration and all its holidays and flights have been cancelled with immediate effect. 750,000 Monarch customers have had their future bookings cancelled.

The CAA, the Civil Aviation Authority, are working alongside the Department for Transport to organise the return of over 100,000 customers who are currently overseas.

CAA chief executive Andrew Haines 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 Unavoidable. We ask customers to bear with us as we work around the clock to bring everyone home.”

Monarch was the largest airline in the UK and is the largest airline to ever go into administration. The CAA says it is dealing with an “unprecedented situation”. Monarch were given until Sunday 1^st October to renew their ATOL license for package holidays but unfortunately they failed to do this.

If you find that you were not covered by ATOL, or insurance, then there are two key things that we can assist you with: claiming from your credit card company under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, or via your debit card provider under the reimbursement scheme.

I’m already abroad – can I continue my holiday and how will I get home?

The CAA have said that they will ensure all customers, including package holiday customer or flight only, get home at the end of their break.

Make sure that you keep hold of all receipts for refreshments or accommodation, as you may be able to reclaim expenses as follows:

• You can reclaim for refreshments – If your new flight is more than four hours later than the original
• You can reclaim for refreshments and accommodation – If your new flight is a day or more after the original

If you’re abroad on a Monarch package holiday, you CAN continue it

The CAA says it is contacting hotels to ensure that Monarch package holiday customers can remain in their accommodation. The CAA have pointed out that you may be asked to make a further payment, in which case you should pay. Keep a receipt showing a full breakdown of charges and claim back when you’re back in the UK.

• Paid on a credit card and your flight cost more than £100? – Under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, if you pay on your credit card for a flight costing more than £100, the card company may be equally liable and you may be able to claim from it.
• Flight less than £100? – Unlike Section 75, the chargeback scheme isn’t a legal requirement. However you may be covered by the Visa, Mastercard or American Express protection schemes and should be covered for the whole price of the flight.

If you have been a victim of the Monarch collapse please contact us for a free legal assessment of your circumstances.