Monarch loses leader and adds to flight programme

Conrad Clifford, Group Chief Executive of Monarch, is stepping down.  Chairman Iain Rawlinson described the sudden departure as amicable and will take on the role he has previously held for the time being until a successor is appointed.  Clifford joined Monarch Group from Emirates in September 2010, having previously run Virgin Nigeria Airways and worked at Menzies Aviation Group and Cathay Pacific.

The airline has also announced its winter flying programme for 2012/2013; adding additional frequencies to existing routes as well as launching new winter services to Italy.

Four-weekly services will operate from Birmingham to Milan, Venice and Rome.  Gatwick has six-weekly flights to Milan as well as four weekly to Venice.  Manchester includes five-weekly flights to Milan, four to Verona and three times Venice.  New for Luton is a three times weekly service to Rome.

The winter flying programme will also operate to existing destinations throughout Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, Croatia, Greece, Egypt, Turkey and Gibraltar.

Swiss-owned Monarch announced a £75m refinancing deal in November 2011 and revealed plans to develop its scheduled airline and expand its fleet and route network.  Charter flying is being reduced to just 20%. www.monarch.co.uk

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