Monarch AirlinesMON/ ZB

Monarch Airlines was a British airline headquartered in Luton that operated from 1968 until its collapse in 2017, serving as a major leisure and holiday carrier for European travelers. The airline specialized in charter flights and scheduled service to Mediterranean and North African destinations, operating primarily from its bases at Luton and Manchester airports. Monarch was known for offering affordable package holidays and was one of the largest independent airlines in the UK before its decline, carrying millions of passengers annually at its peak. The airline operated both leisure charter flights and some scheduled routes, competing with other UK-based carriers in the holiday travel market. Monarch ceased all operations in October 2017 when the airline went into administration, resulting in one of the largest aviation insolvencies in British history and leaving thousands of passengers stranded abroad.