Monarch has ceased trading with immediate effect, leaving 110,000 customers stranded overseas and around 300,000 future bookings cancelled. The Civil Aviation Authority has launched a programme to bring any customers currently stuck abroad back to the UK, and passengers who have bookings with the airline have been advised not to go to the airport, as they will not have a flight. If you've booked with the airline, here is some of the latest information on what you should do next.
If you are one of the 110,000 customers due to fly back from your holiday with Monarch:
The Government has asked the Civil Aviation Authority to charter more than 30 aircraft to bring customers currently overseas back to the UK. They are aiming to fly every customer back to the UK in the next fortnight at no extra cost to passengers, and they do not need to cut short their stay.
© Photo: Getty ImagesSTORY: Ryanair is cancelling even more flights
Vulnerable passengers will be prioritised, and efforts will be made to ensure family groups travel on the same flights. Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: "Nobody should underestimate the size of the challenge, so I ask passengers to be patient and act on the advice given by the CAA."
If you have a future flight or holiday booked with Monarch:
Monarch customers in the UK who are due to depart today or in the future have been told not go to the airport as all flights have been cancelled. Customers with bookings made after 15 December 2016 are not entitled to make a claim to the CAA as these flights are not ATOL protected. The CAA advises customers with these bookings to contact their card issuer, insurer or PayPal for advice on how to claim a refund. Flights booked before this date are ATOL protected, and the CAA is making arrangements for refunds to be made on these bookings as soon as possible.
RELATED: See more travel features here
Any customers who booked a package holiday directly with Monarch Holidays are ATOL protected and will be able to claim for a refund. The CAA has advised that more information will be released on how customers should claim as soon as possible, and asked passengers not to submit a claim until they are advised to do so.
For more information visit monarch.caa.co.uk or call the helpline on 0300 303 2800.
