Monarch considers closing Manchester hanger with loss of 100-plus jobs
Monarch is considering closing its maintenance hangar at Manchester airport with the loss of 109 engineering roles.
A further 12 jobs could be axed at Monarch’s hangar in Luton and two at its facility in Birmingham, said the company.
However, Monarch said all staff affected would be offered alternative jobs with the company.
Nevertheless, workers’ union Unite, which has 1,000 members employed by Monarch, said the news came as a ‘severe blow’ after they had helped to secure Monarch’s investment from Greybull Capital just 18 months ago.
Unite national officer for civil air transport Oliver Richardson said: "Eighteen months ago our members at Monarch made significant sacrifices in terms of their pay, and terms and conditions to help secure the deal with Greybull Capital.
"So it is very disappointing and a severe blow to our engineering members to hear this news when they have played their part in turning around Monarch and making the airline the profitable business that it is today."
Monarch said a review of its engineering operations by airline advisory business Seabury had identified the Manchester facility as being ‘less viable’ than Monarch’s other hangars since Jet2, which provided a large proportion of work for the Manchester facility, stopped using it in 2015.
As a result, Monarch is considering a proposal to relocate the base maintenance work carried out at Manchester to its other facilities.
Dependent on the outcome of consultation with Manchester-based employees and their union representatives, the decision may be taken to close this engineering facility, it said.
However, Andy Mackay, interim managing director of Monarch Aircraft Engineering 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."
Monarch has a state of the art facility in Birmingham, which opened in 2013, and a hangar in Luton where its head office is also based.
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 where we will be pressing very hard to avoid compulsory redundancies and also for redeployment, wherever possible."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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