London - Monarch Airlines has ceased trading and its 300,000 future bookings for flights and holidays have been cancelled, the Civil Aviation Authority has said. More than 30 planes are being sent to bring back about 110,000 customers who are overseas - described as the UK's "biggest ever peacetime repatriation". People were sent text messages at 04:00 BST telling them flights were cancelled - but some were already at airports.
Monarch employs about 2,100 people and reported a £291m loss last year.
The airline - the UK's fifth biggest and the country's largest ever to collapse - was placed in administration at 04:00 BST - a time when there were no Monarch planes in the air. Passengers were then sent text messages informing them flights had been cancelled. In all, the 300,000 cancellations could affect up to 410,000 people, the CAA said.
Customers in the UK yet to travel: Don't go to the airport, the CAA says
Customers abroad: Everyone due to fly in the next fortnight will be brought back to the UK at no cost to them. There is no need to cut short a stay. Those with flight-only bookings after 16 October are unlikely to have Atol scheme protection, so will need to make their own arrangements
Customers currently overseas should check monarch.caa.co.uk for confirmation of their new flight details - which will be available a minimum of 48 hours in advance of their original departure time
All affected customers should keep checking monarch.caa.co.uk for more information
The CAA also has a 24-hour helpline: 0300 303 2800 from the UK and Ireland and +44 1753 330330 from overseas
What has gone wrong?
Monarch reported a loss of £291m for the year to October 2016, compared with a profit of £27m for the previous 12 months, after revenues slumped.(FA)
