Monarch to create sixth base at Leeds Bradford

Monarch Airlines announced (09-Jul-2012) plans to create a base at Leeds Bradford Airport in a "multi-million pound investment" that could create 200 jobs, including 100 direct jobs. The airline is launching a summer schedule serving 13 destinations in 2013 (with 12 new routes and an extension of Munich service to year-round operations), with plans to base two new aircraft at Leeds Bradford to be deployed on the route. The new scheduled services will include services to key destinations across the Mediterranean, including Turkey, Italy, Cyprus, Palma and Portugal. The announcement represents a further increase in Monarch's scheduled flights from Leeds Bradford following the launch of flights to ski destinations, Munich and Grenoble, from Dec-2012. The new services, which will commence from Mar-2013, are as follows: Lanzarote (twice weekly), Antalya (twice weekly), Barcelona (twice weekly), Bodrum (twice weekly from 22-Jul-2012 to 16-Sep-2012), Dalaman (twice weekly), Faro (three times weekly), Rome (twice weekly), Heraklion (twice weekly), Larnaca (twice weekly), Menorca (twice weekly), Majorca (four times weekly), Tenerife (twice weekly) and Munich (three times weekly). Monarch Airlines MD Kevin George said "The strategy for Monarch Airlines is now firmly focused on its scheduled services and we are delighted to add Leeds Bradford as our sixth UK base. The addition of thirteen routes further strengthens our already extensive network of leisure destinations across Europe from many of the major gateways in the UK". [more - original PR]