MONARCH Airlines will boost its scheduled services from Luton by 30% next summer in a bid to wrest market share from low-fare rivals it accuses of treating passengers like cattle.
The carrier will fly four times a week to Almeria in Spain and up to five times a week to Ibiza, using a fourth Airbus A320 based at the airport.
It will also increase flights to Palma from one a week to nine, and to Faro from five a week to daily.
Managing director Tim Jeans said: “People are fed up with the cattle-truck conditions and catering on many no-frills airlines.”
Jeans believes Monarch’s onboard service will make it the market leader on many routes. “We’re trying to put clear water between ourselves and the competition,” he said.
“The expansion is a sign that we’re sufficiently confident to take the fight to EasyJet and others.”
It will also mean 50 extra jobs at Luton, where Monarch has been based for almost 40 years.
Previous expansion has focused on Birmingham – where the airline will also base an additional aircraft next year – and Manchester.
See more aviation news from Travel Weekly