The British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) has responded to the publication of the interim review into the Monarch Airlines insolvency, saying it is disappointed staff haven’t been considered.

Monarch Airlines collapsed in October 2017, leaving thousands of passengers stuck overseas and staff left to find out their employer had gone into insolvency via media reports.

The review published today by the Department for Transport, focusses on the repatriation of passengers and recovery of lost money for the taxpayers, but doesn’t mention the failure to keep staff up to date and what will happen to their lost earnings and pensions.

BALPA general secretary, Brian Strutton, said:

“BALPA is disappointed the review into the collapse of Monarch has focussed solely on passengers and taxpayers, with no thought given to the staff who lost their jobs.

“Monarch’s 3,000 staff were kept totally in the dark, they only heard their company had gone under through news reports, and were then told to call a premium rate phone number in order to hear they had been made redundant. And of course they lost earnings and pensions.

“It is important to protect passengers from any future airline collapses, but BALPA urges the Department for Transport to also consider measures to protect staff.”