A revival of Monarch Airlines six years after the collapse of its tour operating parent company in 2017 has been the centre of intensifying social media speculation.
X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, ran a post on Saturday indicating that Monarch Airlines and Monarch Holidays had passed into unspecified new ownership “following the exit of the companies’ founder and previous majority shareholder.”
It added that “more information will be forthcoming”, amid suggestions that an accompanying Monarch Holidays venture could be created as an online travel agent to support the carrier.
A new website under the @LetsMonarch nickname said: “We’re working hard building a new Monarch, just for you” with no further details other than encouragement to follow the brand on Instagram and Twitter.
We’re working harder than ever to let you introduce yourself to the sun again. It’s time to celebrate a new Monarch. pic.twitter.com/2ZEDtuYv9G
— Monarch Airlines (@letsmonarch) August 20, 2023
Separately, US commercial aviation publication Airways claimed that the new Monarch had obtained initial investment from firms in the EU and UK under new chairman Daniel Ellingham.
In what was described as an exclusive interview, the publication quoted Ellingham as saying: “I am honoured to be able to lead the iconic Monarch brand not a new era, now 55 years after it first took to the skies.
“It is immensely rewarding to know that wea re soon going to launch a new and strong company for the UK tourism sector.”
He added: “There are numerous opportunities yet to be filled by other operators; many of these cover some of the former Monarch’s key markets, meaning that there is the opportunity for newcomers such as ourselves to step up and meet demand.”
No official application for an Air Operators Certificate (AOC) has yet to be made to the Civil Aviation Authority, although initial contact is expected within the next month.
However, the new company is said to be looking to operate a fleet of up to 15 Airbus A320 family aircraft – 20 less than at the time of its collapse.
The Monarch Travel Group failed in October 2017 owing £466 million, leading to the UK’s largest peacetime repatriation flying home more than 85,000 holidaymakers from overseas at a cost of £60 million.
Monarch Airlines flew from bases at Luton airport, Gatwick, Manchester and Leeds-Bradford, carried six million passengers a year and employing 2.100 staff.