Deadline looms for XL passengers seeking refund

Holidaymakers who were left out of pocket by the demise of XL Airways last year have until this Friday (September 11) to file a claim for compensation.

The operator collapsed on September 12, 2008, leaving 200,000 people scrambling to secure refunds from Civil the Aviation Authority (CAA) for their tickets.

About 85,000 of those had booked with an ATOL-bonded agent and so were automatically entitled to a refund – and yet a quarter have still not asked for their money back.

XL passengers to start receiving compensation

People whose flights were cancelled following the collapse of XL Leisure Group are to begin receiving refunds, Travel Weekly reports.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has confirmed that it will start paying out claims next week, with an estimated 80,000 customers expected to file for compensation.

Only people who booked through an Atol-protected tour operator will receive refunds from the regulator, while others will have to seek compensation from their credit card firm.

Last of stranded XL passengers flown home

The final repatriation flight bringing home people affected by the collapse of XL Airways has landed in the UK

Some 83,000 passengers were left stranded in 40 destinations around the globe after parent company XL Leisure collapsed last month.

In the 18 days that have followed, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has operated some 222 charter flights to ferry passengers home.

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.

XL to end all Caribbean routes from Gatwick

XL Airways has announced plans to scrap the Caribbean routes it operates out of Gatwick Airport.

The carrier has revealed that operations of all six routes will cease by November 3, 2008.

It cited the rising cost of fuel and the slowdown in the UK economy as the reasons behind its decision to put an end to the services.

Currently, XL operates flights out of Gatwick to St Lucia, Barbados, Tobago, St Kitts, Antigua and Grenada.

XL Airways to begin using new 737-900s from Manchester

XL Airways is to expand the number of seats available on several of its services from Manchester Airport thanks to its investment in a new generation of aircraft.

The carrier will begin using Boeing 737-900s from May 29 this year. These planes have 26 more seats than their predecessors, the B737-800s, and as such there will be more space for passengers on XL's flights from the northern hub.

Destinations served by the airline from Manchester Airport include Spain, the Canary Islands and Egypt.

XL.com to begin new West Ireland service from Gatwick

Budget airline XL.com is to begin the only scheduled route between London Gatwick and Knock in the west of Ireland.

The service will operate six days a week beginning on December 14, with flights departing at varying times. Tickets are on sale now, beginning at £19 one-way, including taxes.

Boeing 737-800 aircraft, with 189 seats, will be used on the route.

More flights to Cyprus and Egypt from XL Airways

XL Airways is to operate extra flights to Cyprus and a new route to Egypt from London next summer.

From May 23, the airline will begin a new programme of flights from London Luton Airport to Larnaca and Paphos (both in Cyprus) and Sharm-El-Sheikh (Egypt).

To Larnaca, a five-times weekly service will operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and to Paphos, three-times weekly flights will depart on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Return of Gatwick to Knock route

XL Airways is to operate scheduled flights between Gatwick and Ireland West Airport Knock starting December 14, resurrecting a route once served by Ryanair and easyJet.

Flights will operate six days a week, with one-way tickets starting from £19, and from May 2008 the flight will operate seven days a week. The launch also marks the travel company’s first scheduled service to Ireland.

XL to fly London to Larnaca this summer

XL Airways is to launch twice-weekly flights from London Luton to Larnaca in Cyprus from February 6.

The airline is offering return tickets (including all extras) for between £167 and £190.

XL already flies to Larnaca from Birmingham, Bristol, Gatwick and Manchester and could introduce new services from several regional airports across the UK, possibly including Durham Tees Valley and East Midlands.

Excel becomes XL as part of rebranding

The XL leisure group has rebranded its low-cost airline, giving it a fresh new look, and expanded its website.

XL Airways, which used to be known as Excel Airways, now has a bright blue logo that is designed to reflect the coastal destinations it serves.

The group's French and German charter airlines (Star Airlines and Star Europe) will also be rebranded and become known as XL Airways. Four new XL.com websites will be launched in Ireland, Australia, France and Germany.

Offers on direct Excel Airways Caribbean flights

Excel Airways is to fly non-stop flights to the Caribbean island of Grenada over the coming year.

Tourism minister for Grenada Brenda Hood confirmed the flights, saying: "Excel will operate a direct, once per week flight from London to Grenada from December 2006 to December 2007."

She also noted that Germany's Condor Airlines would begin offering year-round service to the island nation beginning in November.

Excel Airways is offering a series of discount tickets to the Caribbean through Excel Holidays. Flights from Gatwick and Manchester airports to Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, St Kitts and Tobago are part of the company's newly-launched holiday programme.

July flights from £49 return with Excel Airways

Excel Airways is offering hundreds of seats at incredible rates for travel before the end of July.
Fly from as little as £49 return, including taxes and charges. Destinations include Paphos and Malaga.

Return flights on offer include:

- Manchester to Malaga from £49
- Cardiff to Paphos from £49

June flights from £49 return with Excel Airways

Excel Airways is offering hundreds of seats at incredible rates for travel before the end of June.

Fly from as little as £49 return, including taxes and charges. Destinations include Chania in Greece, Alicante and Malaga.

Flights on offer include:

- London Gatwick to Malaga, departing tomorrow, June 21 and returning on June 28 for £49 return.

Excel passengers stranded in Spain

Engine trouble on an Excel Airways plane led to hundreds of British tourists being stranded in Spain and finally arriving home over 24 hours late.

Passengers were returning to Gatwick from Faro in Portugal when the plane was diverted to pick up more people. However, the plane was grounded and passengers evacuated when the crew smelt smoke, The Mirror reports.

Excel Airways to cut fuel costs

Excel Airways is planning to install winglets on the wing tips of four of its leased aircraft in a bid to cut fuel costs.

A growing trend in the aviation industry, the technology will be installed on the company's 737-800 airplanes and is expected to be particularly beneficial for some of the airline's longer flights.

These include flights from Gatwick to Luxor in Egypt, Tenerife and Spain, which could require up to four per cent less jet fuel, saving 115,000 gallons per plane.

Excel Airways to continue St Kitts flights

Excel Airways is to continue providing flights to St Kitts, as the Caribbean island prepares for an increased number of incoming flights from a variety of airlines.

The St. Kitts and Nevis president disclosed that Excel will continue its scheduled Saturday afternoon flights to the island from Gatwick and London.

Dr Denzil Douglas also spoke of plans by Miami Air and Platinum Charters to increase flights to St Kitts this summer, as well as the prospect of an increased amount of incoming flights from US Airways and American Airlines, Caribbean Net News reports.

Excel Airways launches winter ski flights from Bristol

Excel Airways has announced that it will operate flights to the French Alpine resort of Chambéry from Bristol during the winter season.

From December 23 until the end of April 2006, the charter airline will fly once a week to the popular ski destination. The initial two flights will operate on Fridays, with all subsequent flights leaving on Sunday mornings.

Excel Airways scoops charter award

Excel Airways has been voted Best Charter Airline in the UK at a prestigious travel awards ceremony.

The airline beat off competition from charter rivals including Thomsonfly and MyTravelLite to win the award at the Telegraph Travel Awards 2005.

Passengers chose Excel because of its user-friendly approach as well as its good punctuality record.

It is the second year in a row that Excel has won the Telegraph award. Last December, it scooped the World's Leading Charter Airline Award 2004 at the World Travel Awards in Barbados.

Excel Airways announces more routes from Humberside

© Excel Airways

Excel Airways has today announced that it will fly to four new destinations from Humberside Airport next summer.

During July and August next year, it will offer flights to the popular Canary Islands' resorts of Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura.

It will also offer flights to the Greek Islands of Zakynthos (Zante) and Corfu.

The announcement brings the number of destinations offered by the airline from Humberside to 13.

Excel Airways launches new Humberside sunshine flights

Low-cost charter airline Excel Airways has announced the launch of a number of new flights from Humberside Airport for next Summer.

Excel will fly from the airport to nine popular Mediterranean holiday resorts.

Starting in May 2006, it will fly to the Canary Islands destinations of Lanzarote and Tenerife, Majorca, Alicante and Malaga in Spain and to the Portuguese Algarve.

It will also offer flights to the Greek island destinations of Rhodes and Paphos as well as to Dalaman on the Turkish Aegean coast.