An Ely travel company has assured customers due to fly on holiday or return from abroad that they are protected following the collapse of an airline that has been operating for 50 years.

Monarch Airlines, the fifth largest airline in the UK, has ceased trading.

Premier Travel, with a branch office in the city, said they have been monitoring the situation since Saturday and have already prepared details of which customers are overseas and which customers are due to depart.

Paul Waters, director at Premier Travel, said: “Our customers and their travel plans are of the utmost importance to us at this time and our priority is communicating with them to reduce the impact of this failure.

“Premier Travel’s priority is to ensure any of their customers who have a booking through Monarch, both in resort and due to travel, are looked after.

“All customers who have Monarch bookings through Premier Travel are financially protected.

“Premier Travel have set up an emergency team at its head office in Cambourne to coordinate the efforts to contact all affected customers both in resort and due to travel with Monarch to advise them of alternative arrangements.

“Our thoughts and best wishes go to all our colleagues and friends within the Monarch Group at this time.

“Monarch have been operating since 1967 and have been a huge supporter of independent travel agents since their inception.”