Monarch Airlines Receives first Boeing 737
Thornhill, Canada - On April 22, 2017, a photo surfaced of a yet-to-be-delivered Monarch Airlines Boeing 737-82R(WL). The photo, taken by Ilgaz Deger shows the 737-800 parked at Istanbul's Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW/ LTFJ). On the nose wheel you should be able to see AY, which represents her registration, which, at the moment is TC-AAY. TC-AAY, a 2010 Boeing 737-82R(WL), was originally owned and operated by Turkish Low-Cost airline Pegasus. While operating with Pegasus she was configured in the Y189 seating plan. This means she sat 189 passengers in one class, I assume the interior will be redone before entering service. Although Alpha Yankee is painted in the Monarch livery, she has not yet been re-registered. But according to planespotters.net, Alpha Yankee with become G-ZBAV, becoming the troubled British Low-Cost carrier's 35th aircraft, and their first American Made aircraft. After a financial scare in late September of 2016, teasing a bankruptcy. Monarch Airlines managed to secure £165m (USD $210837000) from parent organization Monarch Holdings Limited. This £165m was essential in renewing its Air Travel Operators’ License (Atol) until September 2017. The renewal came only four hours before it was due, potentially shutting down the airline for good.
