Monarch launches Lisbon and Madrid in summer schedule

UK independent airline, Monarch is to introduce flights to two additional European capital cities as it expands its network offering in summer 2016. The airline will launch its first flights to Madrid, Spain and Lisbon, Portugal from May next year as it grows its fleet to 35 aircraft.

Monarch will introduce flights to Lisbon from the start of May with a three times weekly link from London Gatwick from May 3, 2016 and a three times weekly service from Manchester from May 5, 2016. Madrid will be added to its network from June 17, 2016 with the start of a four times flight from Birmingham, which will be followed just days later by a new four times weekly link between Birmingham and Lisbon.

“We continuously refine and develop our network strategy looking closely at where and at what time our customers want to fly. We are delighted to announce that for Summer 16 we will launch two new destinations to Lisbon and Madrid both of which we know will be a popular choice with our customers,” said Marjan Schoeke, Head of Network Development, Monarch.

The extended summer 2016 schedule also includes new frequencies to many of the airline’s most popular destinations such as Malaga, Alicante, Palma de Mallorca and Tenerife with flights at sociable times, allowing customers to escape for a weekend or a longer break to some of Europe’s most popular leisure destinations. The Birmingham growth will be facilitated by the arrival of a ninth aircraft at its Midlands’ base.

In total over 2,100 flights have been added to the Monarch network for summer 2016 and other notable new services include flights from Manchester to Madeira (twice weekly from May 1, 2016) and from London Gatwick to Almeria (three times weekly from May 3, 2016), Gibraltar (four times weekly from May 1, 2016) and Gran Canaria (weekly from May 5, 2016). A new three times weekly Manchester – Tel Aviv route will also start from April 19, 2016, following the successful launch of flights to Israel from London Luton at the beginning of this month.

Richard Maslen

Richard Maslen has travelled across the globe to report on developments in the aviation sector as airlines and airports have continued to evolve and…