Monarch predicts 50pc rise in passengers from airport

THE managing director of Monarch Airlines yesterday predicted that its annual passenger numbers from Leeds-Bradford Airport could rise from 200,000 to 300,000 next year.
Kevin GeorgeKevin George
Kevin George

Kevin George, Monarch’s MD, said the growth was expected to be driven by a combination of new routes and more frequent flights to its current destina- tions.

Mr George said that many UK consumers were protecting their leisure spending, and, in some cases, deciding to spend money on a holiday while making economies elsewhere.

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Last year, Monarch revealed that it planned to create up to 200 jobs at Leeds-Bradford, after naming it as its sixth UK base.

The airline is introducing 12 new routes this year, and it has also decided to run its winter service to Munich all-year round.

The new list of services, which are primarily aimed at leisure travellers, include scheduled flights to Barcelona, Rome, Larnaca (Cyprus) and Tenerife.

Mr George, who was visiting Leeds Bradford to welcome the airline’s new recruits, said yesterday: “We believe that the West Yorkshire and Leeds area provides an excellent customer base for Monarch’s products.

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“Combined with Leeds Bradford airport, we will provide great service for customers in Leeds and West Yorkshire.”

He said Monarch was still seeing “excellent demand” despite the tough economic climate, with good levels of bookings.

The new flights from Monarch started in March.

The roles created as a result of the announcement include jobs for pilots, baggage staff and airport personnel.

Mr George said he would like to see the jobs going to local people.

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Last year, John Parkin, the chief executive of Leeds-Bradford, said that improvements under way at the airport were behind its success in attracting new airlines, including Monarch.

British Airways (BA) revived services between Leeds Bradford and Heathrow in December, after a gap of more than 30 years.

Earlier this year, BA’s chief executive, Keith Williams, said that BA expected to improve links between Leeds-Bradford and the world’s fast growing economies in the coming years.

Mr Williams made the comments during a speech at the Leeds York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner at the Queens Hotel in Leeds.

BA’s Flights to and from Leeds-Bradford recently moved from Terminal 1 at Heathrow to the flagship Terminal 5.

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