Monarch Airlines recently commenced a new route from Birmingham International to the popular tourist destination of Larnaca, Cyprus. This twice-weekly route has sold incredibly well, in fact, it has been the fastest selling route in the airline’s history!
For the summer season Monarch Airlines made 22,000 seats available on this route. Unbelievably over half the seats were sold before the first flight had even taken off.
Monarch Airlines offers cheap flights to 42 destinations around the world, from a variety of UK airports. Its sister company Cosmos Holidays, which has been re-branded as Monarch Holidays offers great value package holidays to these destinations.
Offers currently start at £173 for a European package holiday with Monarch Holidays.
Air Canada is continuing its fight for survival but the outlook currently appears bleak.
Despite the resignation of its Chief Executive and the appointment of a new one in April, business and finance analysts believe the carrier is getting closer to its second filing for creditor protection in 6 years. Air Canada’s chances of surviving without bankruptcy protection stand at no better than 50%.
The new management team have been given 6 months to try and find a solution to some of the problems which are currently crippling the company, such as Union matters, a pension black hole which stands at C$3 billion, other debt obligations, weak demand for travel and increasing competition from other rivals such as WestJet who offer low cost flights throughout the region.
Air Canada will need to make fleet reductions and seek to cuts its cost base substantially to stand any chance of survival in the future.
Nigerian airline Arik Air has something to cheer at the moment. The airline’s first international flight between London Heathrow and the Nigerian capital Lagos is performing ahead of all expectations, with the vast majority of flights operating at close to full.
There were fears that demand would fall during the current economic crisis, but Nigeria still has a healthy, cash rich economy, making it an attractive place for foreign investors and businesses.
Plans for further flight expansion have been revealed by the airline with flights to New York and Johannesburg due to commence in the second and third quarter of 2009 respectively. Arik Air plans to serve up to 11 international destinations within the next 5 years. The new routes will be service by two Airbus A340-500 aircraft.
