85,000 holidaymakers stranded after collapse of XL Leisure

Monday, 15th September 2008

Written by Francesca Cookney

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has been called in to organise one of the biggest airlift operations in recent years after XL Airlines folded, leaving thousands of people stranded in resorts across the globe.

CAA has been working with other commercial airlines to charter flights from summer hotspots in the Caribbean, Florida and the Med. Most passengers who booked their entire holiday as a package deal through the company will be entitled to a free flight through XL's insurance scheme but some 10,000 who booked flights only are not covered and have been left to find their own way home, often having to pay up to hundreds of pounds for last minute travel.

According to CAA, carriers such as Virgin, BA, Thomas Cook and Thomson airlines have offered their services but the mayhem is by no means over with airports jammed full of holidaymakers stranded after cancelled flights and with not enough funds to pay for a hotel.

On a slightly different note, West Ham football club are now on the lookout for a new sponsor after the immediate decision to terminate their three year, £4 million deal with XL upon hearing of the company's collapse.

The club was forced to suspend all sales of replica strip and play this weekend's match against West Bromwich in unbranded shirts.

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