Monarch Airlines: Sun and Reign

Much missed by enthusiasts and holidaymakers alike, Monarch was a staple of the UK airline scene for five decades. Charles Woodley charts the history of the Luton-based bucket-and-spade supremo.

01_33001_ATI_Chris Sheldon.jpg
Monarch Airlines’ sole McDonnell Douglas-built airliner, DC-10-30 G-DMCA (c/n 48266), was acquired from Zambia Airways in 1996. Scrapped at Manchester Airport in 2003, its forward fuselage has been preserved at the northwest hub’s Runway Visitor Park.
AIRTEAMIMAGES.COM/ CHRIS SHELDON

During the second half of 1966, British Eagle International Airlines directors Bill Hodgson and Don Peacock were working on plans to establish their own aircraft maintenance and overhaul company to serve smaller airlines that didn’t have the resources to carry out this work in-house.

Become a Premium Member to Read More

This is a premium article and requires an active Key.Aero subscription to view.

I’m an existing member, sign me in!

I don’t have a subscription…

Enjoy the following subscriber only benefits:

  • Unlimited access to all KeyAero content
  • Exclusive in-depth articles and analysis, videos, quizzes added daily
  • A fully searchable archive – boasting hundreds of thousands of pieces of quality aviation content
  • Access to read all our leading aviation magazines online - meaning you can enjoy the likes of FlyPast, Aeroplane Monthly, AirForces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, Aviation News, Airports of the World, PC Pilot and Airliner World - as soon as they leave the editor’s desk.
  • Access on any device- anywhere, anytime
  • Choose from our offers below