Monarch Airlines has gone bust leaving 110,000 customers stranded overseas.

The Luton-based airline, which was about to mark its 50th anniversary, went into administration early on Monday, triggering uncertainty for customers and a huge effort to get people already on holiday back to the UK.

About 300,000 future bookings for flights and holidays have been cancelled, the Civil Aviation Authority has said.

Customers have been told to keep away from airports as there will be no more flights after the collapse - the largest to hit a UK airline.Passengers are urged to check a dedicated website for advice or call a 24-hour helpline.

The "root cause" of Monarch's reduction in revenue was terror attacks in Egypt and Tunisia as well as the "decimation" of Turkey, according to the company's boss.

Chief executive Andrew Swaffield said the airline was carrying 14% more passengers than last year for £100 million less revenue.

It was badly affected by the 2015 bombing of a Russian airliner which departed from Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt, an attack in Sousse, Tunisia, during the same year which left 30 Britons dead and a 2016 attempted coup in Turkey.

Have you been affected? E mail webdesk@nqnw.co.uk 

In a letter to staff which he described as "the update I hoped I would never have to write", Mr Swaffield explained that the firm went into administration "despite our best efforts".

What to do if you are one of the 110,000 Monarchcustomers overseas or one of the 300,000 with future bookings cancelled.

Monarch passengers abroad:

What should I do now?

The Government has told Monarch customers to continue their holidays as planned and is organising special flights back for passengers who are affected at no cost to them. At least 48 hours before you are due to return home you should visit the dedicated website monarch.caa.co.uk, call the helpline on 0300 303 2800 if calling from the UK or +44 1753 330330 if calling from overseas to confirm your new flight details. Repatriation flights are for all passengers who purchased tickets withMonarch irrespective of their nationality.

When will I be able to fly?

You should expect to be flown as close as possible to your planned departure dates, no earlier, and prepare for disruption to journeys. Some passengers may need to speak with their accommodation provider in case they need to extend their stay.

When should I go to the airport?

You should arrive at the airport more than three hours before your confirmed new flight as they will not be able to take earlier services. Foreign Office staff will be available at affected airports to help any vulnerable British citizens with specific needs. Any Britons requiring additional consular support should visit gov.uk/world.

Can I check in online?

There will be no online check-in. You will be issued with a new flight and new boarding card and will not be able to check in with your old flight details.

Will I have to pay for the flight?

Once on board the plane, you will be asked to provide details of your original Monarchbooking. If you are not Atol (Air Travel Organiser's Licence) protected, this will allow the Government to claim the cost of their replacement flight directly from your credit or debit card company. You will not be asked to pay for your flight yourself.

Do I have to pay for extra accommodation costs?

Passengers with Atol protection are entitled to reasonable accommodation and subsistence costs if they are delayed by more than four hours. Those without Atol protection may be able to claim from credit card providers or insurers. Further information will be made available via the website. The CAA will process your refund as quickly as possible - check the dedicated website for more information.

How do I know if I am Atol protected?

Check if you have received an Atol certificate, or check with your travel agent.

Will I be flown back to my departure airport?

You may be flown back to different UK airports, with coaches available to take you to your destination airport.

Monarch customers yet to travel:

Check the dedicated website or contact your travel agent if you booked with one. They will be able to advise on whether you can change your holiday booking or are entitled to a refund or compensation. If you are not covered by the Atol scheme, you should also contact your credit card company or travel insurer.

The first flight of an operation to return 110,000 MonarchAirlines customers from overseas in the wake of the company's collapse has arrived back in the UK.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said it had been asked by the Government to charter more than 30 aircraft to bring the passengers back to the UK, with Transport Secretary Chris Grayling calling it the "biggest peacetime repatriation" effort.

A plane carrying 165 passengers from Ibiza arrived at Gatwick on Monday morning hours after the airline's board called in administrators KPMG, the regulator said.

Mr Swaffield said Monarch attempted to "pivot our airline from short-haul to long-haul to reduce losses", but was unable to find a "deliverable offer" from a buyer for its short-haul operations or assets.

Mr Swaffield said he was "so sorry" for causing "huge inconvenience to customers".

He went on: "We are working with the joint administrators and the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) to do everything we possibly can to help minimise disruption where we can, but are under no illusion as to the problems this will cause.

"And many suppliers will suffer hugely as a result of our insolvency - for which I am equally sorry."

Mr Swaffield told his employees that they can "all hold your heads up high and be proud of what you achieved at Monarch".

He added: "It has been a company that has cared for its customers and which has been like a family for many people for five decades. I cannot tell you how much I wanted to avoid this outcome and how truly sorry I am."