'Shock and anger' over Monarch Airlines collapse
Hundreds of thousands of Monarch Airlines passengers found out early on Monday via text message or letter that the company has ceased trading. Many have expressed distress and disbelief after their holiday plans were left in tatters.
'Shock then anger'
Katie Ode drove to Manchester airport on Monday morning from Anglesey, north Wales, for a Monarch flight at 07:00 BST.
She told BBC Radio 5 Live she received a text message at 04:00 BST when she and her friend were only 10 minutes from the airport.
When they got closer, the scene outside the terminal was "chaotic".
"There was a massive queue of traffic. Stewards were stopping every car saying there was no point going into the airport… there was no staff, they have gone home," she said.
Ms Ode said she felt "shock at first, then anger", mainly because it was their only holiday booked for the year.
She has phoned her package holiday company to see if she can get another flight or, if not, a refund.
'£900 out of pocket'
David Elrick had his flight to Dalaman, Turkey, cancelled this morning from London Gatwick, but has managed to rebook.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I'm at Gatwick airport still.
"I arrived at 05:00 the flight was due 07:10 and we were met by some of the staff at Gatwick airport handing out letters saying that Monarch had stopped trading.
"It wasn't until we got to Gatwick that we were advised… You can imagine quite a few people were quite shocked by this."
He said he managed to book an alternative flight online, but this cost him another £600 for him and his partner.
"Plus baggage and seats, I imagine I am £800 to £900 out of pocket.
"I booked through Thomson and they are Atol protected so hopefully there will be some form of compensation, but I'll worry about that when I'm back from holiday."
'Absolutely gutted'
Steve Walker, from Northampton, told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Travelling to Luton - or I was - to fly to Sweden to defend my world power lifting title tomorrow.
"Now driving back home. No chance of getting to Sundsvall in time, three months of hard training down the pan. Absolutely gutted."
'I thought it was a prank'
Mike Olley was due to fly back to Birmingham from Malaga on Monday.
"We got a text this morning saying that Monarch had gone out of business. I thought it was a prank," he said.
"Our flight is at 12:15 back home today. We haven't got any information on our flight yet.
"[It is a] bit of a shock to the system, but I am reassured by the assurances of [Transport Secretary] Chris Grayling. The CAA seems very up to speed but I feel sorry for the staff."
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