Reality_Check© wrote:
> Thousands stranded by XL collapse
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> XL Chief Executive Phil Wyatt says he is devastated by the collapse
>
> The collapse of the UK's third largest package holiday group has left
> tens of thousands of Britons stranded abroad.
>
> The decision to place XL Leisure Group into administration has also
> left thousands of staff facing the axe.
>
> Chairman Phil Wyatt said he was "totally devastated" by the failure
> which has grounded XL's 21 planes. The company flies to about 50
> destinations.
> There are 67,000 stranded who booked directly with XL, and another
> 23,000 who booked via other companies.
>
> The Civil Aviation Authority(CAA) also said the firm had 200,000
> advance bookings.
>
> 'Sad day'
>
>
>     CAA EMERGENCY HELPLINE
>      Customers abroad: +44 (0) 2891 856547
>      Customers in the UK with advance bookings: 0870 5900927
>
>
> "We've made every effort, myself and my fellow directors, to find new
> funding for the business - and it's a very sad day for me personally.
> I am totally devastated," XL chairman Phil Wyatt said.
> David Clover, a spokesman for the CAA, said it was making
> arrangements to help customers of the four tour companies within the
> XL group.
> "In respect of people who are currently abroad we're making
> arrangements and working very closely with the travel industry to
> organise repatriation flights.
>
> "Clearly though, with XL Airways no longer operating, we're having to
> bring in substitute aircraft to bring people home."
>
> He said 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.
> Struggling
>
> However, those who booked directly with the airline or XL.com - who
> are in the minority according to the CAA - will face a fee.
>
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> Stranded XL tourists wait at airports around the world
>
> Anyone yet to take their flights should check their insurance
> policies, and with their banks or credit card companies about
> refunds, he added.
> XL - which carried 2.3 million passengers last year - is the latest
> travel business to face financial difficulties, as the industry
> struggles with high fuel costs and an economic downturn.
>
> But an agreement has been reached whereby Straumur investment bank has
> acquired XL's German and French subsidiaries, which Straumur
> considers to be financially viable and sustainable businesses.
>
> They will continue operations as separate commercial entities.
>
> Share prices in holiday firms TUI Travel and Thomas Cook were up 6%
> and 7% following the collapse of their rival.
>
> Economic downturn
>
> "As the travel industry matures in Europe, there was always going to
> be pressure on those operating in the mid-market," said
> Lastminute.com chief executive Ian McCaig.
>
> A statement on the XL group's 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."
>
>     XL COMPANIES
>      XL Leisure Group
>      XL Airways UK
>      Excel Aviation
>      Explorer House
>      Aspire Holidays
>      Freedom Flights
>      Freedom Flights (Aviation)
>      The Really Great Holiday Company
>      Medlife Hotels
>      Travel City Flights
>      Kosmar Villa Holidays
>
>
> BBC travel correspondent Tom Symonds added that the industry would be
> facing an "enormous challenge" as it deals with the fall out of XL's
> collapse.
> "XL wasn't just an airline it was a fundamental link Britain's package
> holiday industry," he said.
>
> "Getting these people to and from their holidays will be an enormous
> challenge not least because of the shortage of aircraft caused by so
> many airline collapses in recent weeks.
>
> "XL can't use its own airliners for among other reasons it has no
> insurance now."
>
> The CAA said it was working with the travel industry to bring stranded
> holidaymakers home, and denied it had been responsible for the
> grounding of XL's planes.
>
> Airlines BA, Easyjet, BMI, Flybe and Ryanair have offered to fly some
> of the stranded passengers home.
>
> Easyjet chief executive Andy Harrison told the BBC that its fuel
> efficient planes had helped it cope with the high cost of aviation
> fuel although on Thursday it said it would cut up to 60 jobs to
> remain competitive.
> Fuel pressures
>
> Mr Wyatt added that spiralling oil prices had increased the firm's
> costs "year-on-year by over $80m".
>
> "So where many people have been making hay with high oil prices, this
> is the repercussions of that hay - 1,700 people potentially out of
> work today in the UK," he said.
>
> Rival TUI warned that rising fuel costs meant that "airlines with
> less than robust business models" - such as XL and Futura - were now
> failing.
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>
> David Clover from the CAA
>
> It added that the government should take steps to ensure all holiday
> companies must belong to the Atol scheme, which offers package holiday
> makers financial protection.
>
> In the US, one flight from Orlando to Manchester managed to set off,
> while one bound for Gatwick was grounded. A source at the airport said
> accommodation was being found for the "distressed" passengers.
>
> In the UK, air traffic control prevented three XL aircraft from
> taking off from Manchester Airport.
>
> The XL group, which is based in Crawley, West Sussex, runs an airline
> and owns several travel companies, including Travel City Direct,
> Medlife Hotels Limited, The Really Great Holiday Company, Freedom
> Flights and Kosmar Holidays.
>
> 'Going nowhere'
>
> The company flies mainly from bases at Gatwick, Manchester and Glasgow
> airports.
>
> Travel writer Simon Calder warned that many thousands of XL customers
> hoping to fly to the Caribbean, Mediterranean, North Africa and North
> America, from airports across the UK in coming weeks and days "simply
> won't be going anywhere".
>
> Jim Duwaine, from Portsmouth, said he was given the news when he
> arrived at Gatwick where he had been due to catch an early morning
> flight to Menorca.
>
>     HELP OFFERED TO XL CUSTOMERS
>
>
>      Flybe - offering flights for 90 euros (£71.50)
>      BA - offering a one-way discount
>      Easyjet - flights offered for £75
>      BMI - provided aircraft to CAA for transport people home
>      Ryanair - has offered spare plane to CAA for transport
>
> He said: "Absolutely devastated. Got up at midnight planning on going
> on holiday, but got let down, unfortunately. We're here, just trying
> to get some other flights, but it's not looking good. I think
> everyone else has got the same idea."
>
> Other holidaymakers have said they have been quoted vastly inflated
> prices for replacement flights.
>
> Robert Spurgeon, of Norwich - an XL customer who had been due to fly
> to Tenerife from Gatwick - said: "We've not been told anything but my
> wife's been quoted £2,000 for alternative flights."
>
> Also among those affected are a 130-strong choir on tour to Canada
> from Wales who were booked on Zoom and lost £50,000 when it folded
> last month, and then re-booked with XL.
>
> XL is the current kit sponsor of West Ham United but football club
> said it would end the sponsorship deal and play on Saturday in an
> unbranded kit.