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Monarch failure: CAA merges Monarch flights as repatriation continues

The CAA has warned Monarch customers being flown back from Europe may arrive at a different airport to the one they left from during week two of the repatriation effort.

A number of smaller flights have been consolidated onto larger aircraft as the regulator works to bring the remaining 25,000 holidaymakers still abroad home.

Coaches will be laid on to take people back to their original airport of departure, the CAA said in an update after day nine of its repatriation.

The main flying programme is due to end on October 15 and as of yesterday 80% of the 110,000 customers stranded overseas when Monarch failed were back in the UK.

Richard Moriarty, CAA group director of consumers and markets, said: “We have six days remaining of our main flying programme, during which some flights are being merged together.

“So it’s really important that anyone planning to travel checks the website at least 24 hours before their original flight time – monarch.caa.co.uk – where their flight details will be confirmed.

“Although nobody will be asked to fly to the UK before the day of their original flight, some will be asked to head to the airport a few hours earlier than their original check-in time as some of our flights will be departing earlier.”

Once the main flight programme finishes on Sunday the CAA will continue to return Atol protected customers on existing scheduled flights.

For Atol protected Monarch customers with future bookings, the CAA has announced that claims forms will be distributed this week.

They will be emailed directly to customers or to their travel agent and will be settled within 28 days of being submitted, subject to the correct information being provided.

Yesterday the CAA was due to operate 29 flights, bringing over 5,500 people back to the UK. Delays were experienced due to the latest French air traffic control strikes.

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