The CAA has confirmed that Monarch Airlines, Monarch Holidays, First Aviation, Avro Ltd and Somewhere2stay have all entered administration.

As of today (October 2), all future holidays and flights provided by these companies have been cancelled and are no longer operating, so customers are advised not to go to the airport. The CAA added that Monarch Airlines is the UK’s largest ever airline to enter administration.

The CAA has described the collapse as “unprecedented”, and that the UK government has asked it to coordinate flights back to the UK for all Monarch customers currently overseas. It has secured a fleet of 30 aircraft flying to more than 30 airports to bring passengers back to the UK.

The companies also had about 300,000 future bookings. Customers are advised that they will not need to cut their stay short.

The CAA has a dedicated website monarch.caa.co.uk, which is the best source of advice and information for affected customers, and a 24 hour helpline (0300 303 2800 from in the UK and Ireland, and +44 1753 330330 from overseas) to provide additional assistance.

Customers currently overseas are advised to check monarch.caa.co.uk for confirmation of their new flight details, which will be available a minimum of 48 hours in advance of their original departure time.

And Monarch customers overseas shouldn’t go to the airport unless their flight back to the UK has been confirmed on monarch.caa.co.uk, the CAA said.

Andrew Haines, chief executive of the CAA, said: “We know that Monarch’s decision to stop trading will be very distressing for all of its customers and employees.

“This is the biggest UK airline ever to cease trading, so the government has asked the CAA to support Monarch customers currently abroad to get back to the UK at the end of their holiday at no

extra cost to them.

“We are putting together, at very short notice and for a period of two weeks, what is effectively one of the UK’s largest airlines to manage this task. The scale and challenge of this operation means that some disruption is inevitable. We ask customers to bear with us as we work around the clock to bring everyone home.

“We urge people affected by the company’s collapse to check our dedicated website monarch.caa.co.uk for advice and information on flights back to the UK.

“It also gives information to those passengers that have future bookings with Monarch but are yet to leave the UK.”

The CAA will be providing regular updates as its flying programme develops, it said.