Monarch consults on job losses after hitting turbulence

JOB cuts by Monarch will affect its Birmingham operations, although it is the proposed closure of the airline’s maintenance hangar at Manchester Airport that will bear the brunt of the job losses.

Around 140 jobs are at risk after Monarch launched a consultation with its staff. Several roles at Birmingham are under threat plus 13 at Luton, with more than 120 engineering jobs dependent on the Manchester site.

Andy Mackay, Monarch’s interim managing director, said: “We are fully committed to retaining talent, skills and expertise within our business.

“In the event that redundancies become necessary, we will offer alternative roles to all those affected, with relocation to our other facilities.”

The news was branded “a severe blow” by union Unite, which has more than 1,000 members working for Monarch in engineering and cabin crew roles.

Unite regional officer, Paul Bouch said: “The company blames a lack of work for these job losses – and not the level of summer bookings. Unite will be giving maximum support to our engineering members affected at Monarch in the days and weeks to come.

“We have our first meeting with management tomorrow (Thursday 21 April) where we will be pressing very hard to avoid compulsory redundancies and also for redeployment, wherever possible.”

In October 2014 Greybull Capital took control of Monarch from the Mantegazza family.