XL Airways enters administration – all flights grounded

XL Airways (website: www.xl.com) has become the largest UK carrier to declare bankruptcy in the current wave of difficulties. All flights were grounded at 1am this morning, leaving British holidaymakers in some 50 destinations stranded around the world.

Parent company XL Leisure is scrambling to help an estimated 85,000 passengers return home after the tour operator plunged into administration this morning (September 12).

Passengers who booked their flights as part of a holiday package have been reassured that they will be covered by insurance from the Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (website: www.caa.co.uk). Those wishing to claim compensation for cancelled bookings should call 0800 068 8991 from within the UK or +44 20 8242 4783 from abroad or visit the airline’s website. Those visiting the website should note that it experiencing difficulties due to high numbers of traffic and if they are unable to view the page, should revisit it later.

But anyone who purchased tickets directly from the carrier's website or call centre will have more difficulty securing a refund, particularly if they booked with a debit card. Travellers are advised to contact their insurance company or credit card provider to try and obtain a refund.

Travellers who are currently abroad should seek to book return flights with other airlines: flythomascook, First Choice and Thomson all fly similar routes.

Confirming the news on its website, XL blamed its demise on rising fuel costs, the global economic slump, and a failure to secure a refinancing deal with its financers.

The collapse comes just a fortnight after the equally unexpected failure of Zoom Airlines, exacerbating concerns that the industry faces its largest crisis for decades.

© Adfero Ltd

Comments

[Diane Berry]

Thank you so much XL for ruining my year. My daughter and I saved long and hard for this holiday and now we have lost it all.I am a single parent and this was my first holiday in years.
Thanks again