RYANAIR POISED TO PINCH RIVAL PILOTS
Monarch axe would cheer boss O’Leary SNAP I DIDN’T ENJOY TAKING Trump: End all talks for peace
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CRISIS-hit Monarch stood on the brink of collapse last night with troubled rival airline Ryanair poised to poach pilots in an attempt to solve its own problems.
Bosses at short-haul specialists Monarch, Britain’s fifth biggest airline, were locked in talks over a last-minute rescue bid amid fears that 100,000 customers could be left stranded.
Monarch’s operating licence was due to expire at midnight if no new finance could be found to keep their planes flying. And beleaguered Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary was ready to step in and snap up its roster of pilots to help ease the pressure on his own firm.
British Airways is also said to be interested in buying Monarch’s assets.
Terrorism
Monarch yesterday took the extraordinary step of quadrupling prices on some routes to put customers off from flying with them.
A company source said: “There is a storm brewing in the airlines market and Monarch is right at the centre of it.
“Terrorism has caused it to lose significant business in some key markets such as Egypt and Turkey.
“Brexit means the cost of fuel and aircraft leases has rocketed.”
Meanwhile, Mr O’Leary was keeping a close eye on developments at his rival.
His Dublin-based budget airline has scrapped 18,000 flights, stranding 400,000 customers, as arguments over pay and working conditions continue. An insider said: “We all know the problems Ryanair has and Monarch’s problems could be a real opportunity.
“Ryanair needs pilots to ease some of the tension.”
Pilots at Ryanair are said to have threatened to walk away if the firm does not grant their demands to force Mr O’Leary out. DONALD Trump warned North Korea that he will “do what has to be done” as he called off negotiations.
The US President has given up trying to reason with the pariah state’s dictator Kim Jong-un, who is developing missiles that can reach America.
He tweeted: “I told Rex Tillerson, our wonderful Secretary of State, that he is wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man. Save your energy Rex... We’ll do what has to be done.”
Mr Trump’s comments fuelled concerns that the US is prepared to start a full-blown nuclear war.
Mr Tillerson revealed on Saturday that the US was communicating directly with North Korea about its nuclear and missile programmes but said Pyongyang had shown no interest in dialogue.