Soaring Demand Results in Increased Flights for Monarch

LUTON, England, March 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading leisure airline Monarch is increasing its programme of flights to Spain, Portugal and Cyprus in April due to phenomenal demand from its customers. In addition, the airline is bringing forward to April the launch of its new scheduled flights to Paphos. All additional flights are now available to book via http://www.monarch.co.uk with fares starting from only GBP40.99 one way including all taxes and charges.

Additional flights will operate from Gatwick and Manchester throughout April to destinations such as Lanzarote, Tenerife, Alicante, Malaga, Majorca, Faro and Larnaca as well as new services to Paphos, which were originally scheduled to commence in May 2011.*

Commenting on Monarch's expanded flying programme for April, Managing Director of Monarch Airlines, Kevin George said, "We have been astonished by the soaring demand for Monarch flights in April, which we believe is being driven by the proximity of Easter to the additional bank holiday. Bookings for April are already up 49% compared with the same time last year with demand from customers still increasing. The addition of 31,000 extra seats into the timetable for April will cater for this demand and enable more customers to take advantage of Monarch's great service and low fares over the long Easter period."

Monarch operates scheduled flights to Spain, Gibraltar, Portugal, Cyprus and Turkey from Birmingham, London Gatwick, London Luton and Manchester airports. In addition to year-round package holidays ( http://www.monarch.co.uk/holidays) and cheap flights, ( http://www.monarch.co.uk/) Monarch also offers a great range of hot and cold meals that can be pre-booked or purchased onboard with prices from GBP3.00. To enable customers to select where in the cabin they sit and ensure that families and groups sit together, seats can be pre-booked at GBP7.50 per one-way flight, or from only GBP15, extra-legroom seats are available, which offer up to six inches of extra space.

Passengers travelling on scheduled flights can also avoid the queues at the airport and take advantage of online check-in which is available between 18 days and 4.5 hours prior to departure.

In addition to flights, Monarch also now offers a huge range of great value holidays, (http://www.monarch.co.uk/holidays) accommodation options, car hire and travel insurance.

For further information or to book Monarch flights, Monarch Holidays or Monarch Hotels, please visit http://www.monarch.co.uk.

* Monarch's new scheduled flights to Paphos from Gatwick and Manchester will now commence on 13 April 2011. New scheduled flights between Birmingham and Paphos will commence on 04 May 2011 as previously announced.