This airline provides the movies, you provide the iPad

Filling your suitcase isn't the only packing you have to do before going on holiday: you also have to load your tablet, phone or laptop with movies and TV shows to keep you entertained while you're away. But when you fly with British airline Monarch, all you have to do is provide the tablet and they provide the movies.

Monarch has today released MPlayer, an app that gives you access to a selection of movies and TV shows while you're in flight. And instead of watching on the small, fuzzy screen in the back of the seat, you can enjoy your chosen entertainment on your glorious 10-inch iPad or other tablet.

Available for iOS from the Apple App Store, Google Play, and the Amazon Appstore, the app contains both paid and free content. Ideally, you'll download the app before you fly; then, upon boarding you can connect to the plane's onboard Wi-Fi network to start watching. The Wi-Fi comes from a single server under the flight deck linked to wireless access points throughout the plane, furnished by Milton Keynes company Aerofi.

Once connected, the MPlayer media bundle costs just £4 (around $6.70 or AU$7) per person per flight, and gives you access to five blockbuster Hollywood movies, and 50 episodes of BBC television programmes. There's also more than 50 albums in there if you fancy a mid-air musical interlude.

The free stuff includes digital versions of the airline's in-flight magazine and a duty-free magazine, as well as bar and restaurant reviews of your destination provided by BarChick and TripAdvisor.

Monarch installed new seats in May with a handy tablet-sized slot replacing the in-flight entertainment. The seats don't recline, safeguarding the knees of the person behind you. The airline also claims the new lighter design of seat saves fuel on each flight.

Of course, a cynic might suggest that all this is a clever way to disguise the fact that the airline has removed its in-flight entertainment system, leaving those of us without tablets bereft of entertainment. An even more cynical person might go further and point out that the airline has figured out a way to charge you to watch your own tablet. Luckily we're not that cynical.

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Monarch announces new route from Leeds Bradford International Airport

Monarch airlines has announced a new route from Leeds Bradford Airport to Gran Canaria for winter 2014/15. 

The route will begin on November 8 2014 operating on a Monday and a Saturday. Flights to Barcelona will also be added to the winter schedule. The flights to the Catalan capital will depart on a Monday and a Friday, starting on February 13 2015.

Gran Canaria is the third Canary Island that Monarch flies to from Leeds Bradford. This new winter addition accompanies Lanzarote and Tenerife and is a popular destination for winter sun. 

The ever popular Barcelona is rich in culture and tradition and is perfect for a city break but now, with its new winter flights from Leeds Bradford can also be a gateway to the slopes. With the resorts of Soldeu and Arinsal in Andorra just three hours away, it provides you with the perfect winter break.

Monarch Airlines’ managing director, Andrew Swaffield said: “We are delighted to expand our winter programme from Leeds Bradford airport with the new route to Gran Canaria, and additional flights to Barcelona. 

"These destinations provide customers with even more variety from their local airport, as well as giving them the options of both sun and ski winter breaks. 

"Once on board, customers will enjoy being looked after by our cabin crew who have recently received Olympics-inspired customer service training.”

Tony Hallwood, aviation development and marketing director at Leeds Bradford Airport, said: ‘’We welcome the introduction of two new winter 14/15 routes to complement Monarch’s existing schedule at Leeds Bradford.

“With the addition of twice weekly services to both Gran Canaria and Barcelona, Monarch is now offering six routes from Yorkshire’s gateway airport this winter. 

"So whether you are looking for some winter sun, treating yourself to a relaxing beach holiday or taking a well-deserved city break, Monarch now offer their widest ever choice of flights from Leeds Bradford, backed by their excellent onboard service.’’

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‘We don’t want to be a smaller easyJet or Ryanair’, says Monarch Airlines boss

Andrew Swaffield, who joined the firm earlier this year after a number of years working at British Airways and its parent company, said he was happy with how his company was performing but more pessimistic about the overall market.

“I’m pleased with how Monarch is performing in the market. I think we are inline, or ahead of the market,” Swaffield told TTG.

“Having said that it’s a difficult market there are too many airline seats chasing too few customers. And it’s a relatively soft market.”

In an increasingly crowded marketplace, Swaffield said it was important that Monarch separates itself from others.

“The big differentiator for us is around our customer focus we really don’t want to be a small version of easyJet and Ryanair,” he said.

“We are very focused on customers and customer service and putting customers at the centre of our decision-making so that’s really how we differentiate and it’s how we intend to differentiate even more going forward – becoming the most customer focussed airline the world.”

Today Monarch became the first airline to be awarded WorldHost Recognised Business status. All the company’s staff have taken part in WorldHost’s training programme, which was used by volunteers at the London 2012 Olympics.

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