Monarch launches scheduled flights from London to Cyprus

Award winning low fares airline Monarch is to launch scheduled flights from London to Cyprus next year as the airline expands its network to the Eastern Mediterranean.

The introduction of the four times per week service from London Luton to Larnaca will be the first low-cost scheduled flights to Cyprus from the UK, offering travellers the flexibility and low fares, not currently available through high fare flag carriers or on charter services.

Monarch’s new Larnaca service will commence on Monday 26 March 2007 with fares from £69.99 one way including taxes and web booking discount. Seats can be booked from Wednesday 20 December 2006 via flyMonarch.com.

Commenting on the introduction of services to Cyprus, managing director of Monarch’s scheduled services, Tim Jeans said, “We are delighted to be the first low fares airline to launch scheduled services to the Eastern Mediterranean, a market that has historically been dominated by the flag carriers and charter services.

“Cyprus Airways and British Airways have operated a high fares cartel to Cyprus for decades which we’ll break with our widely available, flexible low fares. Our new service will be warmly welcomed not just by the growing holiday and overseas property markets in Cyprus, but the 150,000 strong Greek-Cypriot community in London, who’ve been deprived of choice and low fares until now.

“Monarch’s onboard service is also perfectly placed to provide an ideal level of service for the four and a half hour flight time, with extra legroom seating, free inflight entertainment - including full length feature films and the provision of hot and cold food all available.”

Flights to Larnaca will operate on Monday, Tuesday*, Wednesday and Saturday using Airbus A321 aircraft with 213 seats.

Monarch operates scheduled flights to Spain, Gibraltar and Portugal from Aberdeen, Birmingham, London Gatwick, London Luton and Manchester and was named as Leisure Airline of the Year in recent Travel Industry Awards. Fares on Monarch flights include complimentary daily newspapers, a refreshing hot towel service and require no additional payment for checking-in baggage; also available is a unique range of tasty hot and cold meals with prices from £3.00. Seats can be pre-booked at £5 per one-way flight to avoid the last minute free-for-all, or for only £15, why not try one of the 48 extra-legroom seats which offer up to six inches of extra space? Regular travellers are rewarded too, with a range of benefits through the airline’s loyalty scheme, Vantage Club.
For more information or to book, visit flymonarch.com.

* Tuesday flights to Larnaca operate from 10 July 2007