Monarch Airlines has confirmed its schedule for summer 2012 as it moves into direct competition with established rivals easyJet and Ryanair. While it has for decades operated as a charter airline – offering flights as part of package deals in conjunction with travel agents – the airline confirmed earlier this month it would begin offering scheduled services.

As unrest continues across the region, Monarch Airlines has shown its faith in the eastern Mediterranean with the launch of new scheduled flights to Bodrum in Turkey and the Greek island of Corfu. Both will begin operations in May, alongside new departures across the Balearic and Canary Islands plus Cyprus.

Monarch Airlines Managing Director Tim Jeans completes the stellar line up of speakers for the WTM Vision Conference, which takes place on June 16.

Charter carrier Monarch has denied that it has run into financial difficulties after bookmakers slashed the odds on it becoming the next airline to go bankrupt from 50-1 to 4-1 favourite.

Monarch is rolling out it’s online check-in service to passengers travelling on scheduled flights from Birmingham, therefore reducing the required time spent at the airport and ensuring that seating on flights is allocated in advance.