XL collapse leaves thousands stranded
The collapse of the tour operator XL Leisure Group on 12 September left thousands of people stranded abroad and at UK airports after flights were cancelled.
The decision to place XL Leisure Group into adminstration grounded the company’s 21 planes, including flights to popular diving destinations like Egypt and the Canaries.
A statement on the XL Leisure Group website said: “The Companies entered into Administration having suffered as a result of volatile fuel prices, the economic downturn, and were unable to obtain further funding.
The Civil Aviation Authority estimates that there are 50,000 tour operator customers of XLUK abroad, and a further 10,000 abroad with XL Airways, plus 25,000 with other tour operators who shared the XL flights. A further 200,000 customers have advance bookings with the XL tour operators.
Package deals are covered by the CAA's Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (Atol) scheme and those customers will be offered repatriation flights or their money back if they have an advance booking.
However, those who booked directly with the airline or XL.com will not be able to get their money back.
XL Airways was the main carrier into Hurghada for dive specialist tour operator blue o two, and they said that in the short-term they were trying to find alternative airlines to get their guests out to the boats, but in the longer term they’d be hoping someone will step in and buy the company and resurrect the flights.
Tony Backhurst Scuba Travel was similarly affected, with XL being their main carrier into the popular resort of Sharm el Sheikh. The company is now in the process of finding alternative airlines.
Daniel Lion from Longwood Holidays said they only had a flight from Manchester and a flight from Gatwick with XL, and were looking for another airline company to use on these routes.
“The Civil Aviation Authority is busy repatriating people who are stranded in resort, and we are offering a full refund to anyone who’d booked a future trip with us,” he said.
XL Leisure Group Plc included Aspire Holidays Limited, Freedom Flights Limited, Freedom Flights (Aviation) Limited, The Really Great Holiday Company plc, Medlife Hotels Limited, Travel City Flights Limited, and Kosmar Villa Holidays plc.
If you have been affected by the collapse of XL Leisure group and need to make a claim, information on how to claim is available on the CAA website www.atol.org.uk
Dive centre steps in to help stranded passengers
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