monarch

History

Monarch Airlines was launched in 1967. In 1968 the maiden flight, on a Bristol 175 Britannia, flew from Luton, the new airline's base. Significant events over the years included:
1969: A fleet of 6 aircraft carries 250,000 passengers annually.

1971: First jet service (Boeing 720B) comes into operation.

1976: Monarch becomes an all jet fleet.

1981: Monarch carries over 1 million passengers this year and offices are opened at Gatwick, Manchester and Glasgow.

1985: Scheduled route licences are applied for.

1986: Monarch Crown Service is launched(now Monarch Scheduled)

1988: 2.5 million passengers are carried.

1990: New purpose-built headquarters is opened at Luton boasting its own Boeing 757 flight simulator.

1996: Monarch Aircraft Engineering adds a brand new hanger in Manchester to existing facilities at Luton.

1999: The addition of Airbus A330-200 aircraft brings two-class seating to the long haul charter market.

2000: Monarch's website is launched, with on-line booking for scheduled flights.

2001: Monarch carries nearly 5 million passengers on a large network of both scheduled and charter routes, with a combined workforce of nearly 3,000 people.

2002: Monarch unveils a new livery for its aircraft, plus new corporate colours of indigo and yellow. Crown Service is renamed Monarch Scheduled.