Monarch Airlines opens base at East Midlands Airport

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Airline operator Monarch has started flights from East Midlands Airport (EMA) in a move it says will create up to 150 jobs.

The airline is opening its new base at the Castle Donington airport following the departure of low-cost operator bmibaby.

Bmibaby announced in June it was leaving the site after it was purchased by British Airways from Lufthansa.

Monarch will fly to Malaga, Alicante, Faro, Tenerife and Lanzarote.

The closure of the bmibaby operations will result in the loss of about 340 jobs at the airport.

However, a Monarch spokesman said the firm will need to fill at least 150 posts by next summer.

All bmibaby flights will cease to operate from EMA on 10 September with the last flight departing on 9 September.