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Jobs fears at holiday call centre Jobs fears at holiday call centre
(10 minutes later)
Around 150 staff who work for a subsidiary of travel operator XL have been called to a meeting at their call centre offices in Swansea.Around 150 staff who work for a subsidiary of travel operator XL have been called to a meeting at their call centre offices in Swansea.
Travel City Direct which has flights out of Cardiff International Airport provides package holidays in Florida as well as rugby tours and school trips.Travel City Direct which has flights out of Cardiff International Airport provides package holidays in Florida as well as rugby tours and school trips.
The XL Leisure Group, which operates XL airlines, flies to 50 destinations, mainly in the Mediterranean.The XL Leisure Group, which operates XL airlines, flies to 50 destinations, mainly in the Mediterranean.
All its flights have now been cancelled and its aircraft grounded.All its flights have now been cancelled and its aircraft grounded.
Travel City Direct's customer services department is based at the Swansea Enterprise Park. Staff have been told to attend a meeting at 0915 BST.Travel City Direct's customer services department is based at the Swansea Enterprise Park. Staff have been told to attend a meeting at 0915 BST.
Rachael Humphries who has worked at the company for six years described the situation as a "nightmare".
"I just want to know whether we'll get paid for the last two weeks we've worked - or what's going to happen," she said.
The Swansea cell centre handled bookings for more than 170,000 passengers to Florida last year and has been operating for more than 10 years.The Swansea cell centre handled bookings for more than 170,000 passengers to Florida last year and has been operating for more than 10 years.
Travel City Direct, which also deals with holidays to the Caribbean, was part of the Really Great Holiday Company before it was bought in 2005.Travel City Direct, which also deals with holidays to the Caribbean, was part of the Really Great Holiday Company before it was bought in 2005.
XL, which is Britain's third largest package holiday group, went into administration and has yet to say how the jobs in Wales will be affected.XL, which is Britain's third largest package holiday group, went into administration and has yet to say how the jobs in Wales will be affected.
Travel City Direct hoped to fly from Cardiff from 2009 XL last month announced plans to fly from Cardiff to Florida from 2009
The group is the latest travel business to face financial difficulties, as the industry struggles with high fuel costs and an economic downturn.The group is the latest travel business to face financial difficulties, as the industry struggles with high fuel costs and an economic downturn.
XL, which currently flies from airports including Bristol, last month announced plans to fly from Cardiff to Florida from 2009.
The XL group, which is based in Crawley, West Sussex, runs an airline and owns several travel companies, including Travel City Direct, Medlife Hotels Limited, The Really Great Holiday Company, Freedom Flights and Kosmar Holidays.The XL group, which is based in Crawley, West Sussex, runs an airline and owns several travel companies, including Travel City Direct, Medlife Hotels Limited, The Really Great Holiday Company, Freedom Flights and Kosmar Holidays.
The group, which carried 2.3 million passengers last year, has 1,700 employees worldwide.The group, which carried 2.3 million passengers last year, has 1,700 employees worldwide.
A statement on the XL group's website said: "The companies entered into administration having suffered as a result of volatile fuel prices, the economic downturn, and were unable to obtain further funding."A statement on the XL group's website said: "The companies entered into administration having suffered as a result of volatile fuel prices, the economic downturn, and were unable to obtain further funding."
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said 85,000 people could be stranded abroad and 200,000 have made advance bookings with the company.The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said 85,000 people could be stranded abroad and 200,000 have made advance bookings with the company.