Monarch Airlines (London-Luton) has secured an European Air Operators Certificate (AOC) from EASA. The company issued this statement:

Monarch, the leading scheduled airline to leisure destinations is the first major UK airline to have completed all requirements for the issue of an EASA Air Operators Certificate (AOC). The main feature of the new EASA regulations is the introduction of a mandatory Safety Management System (SMS) by which each operator must demonstrate a robust safety culture and a risk based approach to all aspects of aircraft operations. Monarch Airlines’ new AOC will become effective from October 28, 2014; allowing the carrier to continue to operate as a transport category airline under the new regulations.

The civil aviation regulation is to be harmonized at European level by October 28, 2014, meaning all airlines must conform to EASA regulations by this point. The airlines transition involved the production of compliant Operations Manuals and the introduction of new Safety Management and Compliance Monitoring Manuals to meet the requirements of the new Implementing Rules (IRs). Monarch Airlines’ prompt submission of the relevant documents to the UK CAA for approval was eight weeks ahead of the deadline.

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Monarch will phase out is last three Boeing 757-200s at the end of the summer 2014 season ending a long era with the twin jet. However the company will remain a Boeing operator with its upcoming order for 30 Boeing 737 MAX 8s. Boeing 757-2T7 G-DAJB (msn 23770) taxies past the camera at Palma de Mallorca (PMI).

Monarch Airlines: