Yesterday, many stranded holiday makers flew home after XL, Britain’s third largest tour firm filed for administration. At the Palma airport, nearly 500 stranded passengers were sent home safely with Thomas Cook, TUI Group and other British firms accommodating them in their flights.
Mike Collins, a holiday maker who was with his family at Alcudia, said that it had been a nightmare. He said that they came to know that XL had filed for administration through media reports and tried to find out about their flight back home, but did not get any information. He added that yesterday morning they went to the airport without knowing which flight to catch. He said that they were lucky as they had booked for holiday package and hence were covered by the company’s bond. Another holiday maker, Ian Hallsworth, said that they booked a flight with XL for next summer and now, they have lost it. He also said that they have no information about what is going to happen next.
But, around 2 p.m. the Collins and the Hallsworths were accommodated in a flight back home. They said that this had been a very unpleasant holiday.
The remaining passengers were waiting to fly home in the afternoon.
According to the reports, among the passengers affected in Britain were a couple going to marry in Florida, honeymooners going to Skiathos Island in Greece and a marriage party heading for Greece.
Passengers on a flight to Orlando, Florida, informed that the police stopped their plane on the runway just when it was to take off. Damon Emery, who was travelling along with his family, told that it was complete chaos and they were told to return the terminal.
Terry Baldwin from London who was about to go on a holiday to the USA with his family came to know that their flight has been cancelled only after arriving at the Gatwick Airport, London. He said that they were taking money from the passengers until last night and this is nothing but robbery. He said that since they had booked using a debit card, they do not think they will be getting back any of the money.
The XL Group blames the economic crisis and the volatile fuel costs for its collapse. One of the administrators, Kroll, said that there will be significant job losses while Phil Wyatt, the Chairman said that all the 1’700 staff was at risk.
A spokesman of the Civil Aviation Authority said that around 85’000 tourists in North Africa, the Caribbean and the United States were affected due to the XL Leisure Group grounding all their flights on Friday. The CAA said that they would provide special flights for many tourists to fly back home but, around 10,000 people who booked only flights with will have to pay for another ticket. They said that they would make the arrangements as soon as possible.
Those who booked holidays through an XL tour operator will be protected under the ATOL scheme of the CAA but those who booked flights through XL but arranged their own accommodation will not be protected under this scheme. The CAA said that they will try to accommodate them on their planes for affordable fees.
Both the Spanish airline company Futura International and The Zoom airlines have collapsed during recent weeks. Willie Walsh, the Chairman of British Airways predicted that 30 more companies could go out of action in the next 4 months.
Tags: Business Advice Mallorca, holiday makers, palma airport, thomas cook, tui, xl
