Some 94 emergency flights have been scheduled in what is believed to be the largest-ever airlift of British holidaymakers following the collapse of a domestic travel company.
With the unexpected demise of XL Airways late last week, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is struggling to arrange the repatriation of around one quarter of the 85,000 travellers currently stuck abroad.
Its efforts have only been compounded by the collapse over the weekend of a second, smaller British tour operator, K&S Travel, which left around 150 passengers stranded in Bodrum, Turkey.
In a sign of the gravity of the situation, a string of UK airlines has rushed forward to carry out the airlift. They include BA, Virgin Atlantic, bmi, First Choice Airways, Jet2.com, Monarch and Thomsonfly.
Those who have been left stranded and are unable to find a flight are advised to visit the websites of the airlines stepping in to help to find the special deals on offer. BA, for example, has a page of special fares for XL customers and many other airlines are offering the same service.
Richard Jackson, CAA director of consumer protection, was quoted by The Scotsman saying: “The CAA, with extensive help from the travel trade, has been working very hard to look after XL’s customers.
“Our immediate challenge has been to repatriate holidaymakers due home in the days immediately following the company’s collapse. We are also working to ensure the timely return of those who are continuing their holidays over the next couple of weeks.”
Once again, the Civil Aviation Authority (website: CAA) is advising XL (website: www.xl.com) customers not to cut their trips short and reassuring those who have booked a package holiday that they are ATOL-protected. Travellers abroad are still advised to contact tour operators such as Thomas Cook (website: www.thomascookairlines.co.uk), Thomson (website: www.thomsonfly.com), First Choice (website: www.firstchoice.co.uk) and Virgin Holidays (website: www.virginholidays.co.uk) – all of whom are helping affected travellers make alternative arrangements.
