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Stranded Britons returning to UK Stranded Britons returning to UK
(about 2 hours later)
Passengers stranded when tour operator XL collapsed have started arriving back in the UK, after aviation authorities arranged planes for their collection.Passengers stranded when tour operator XL collapsed have started arriving back in the UK, after aviation authorities arranged planes for their collection.
Hundreds of passengers have been returning to Gatwick and Manchester on specially chartered flights and on pre-scheduled flights with spare seats. Thousands of passengers have been returning to Gatwick and Manchester on specially chartered flights and on pre-scheduled flights with spare seats.
XL's 21 planes were grounded on Friday, leaving some 90,000 people abroad.XL's 21 planes were grounded on Friday, leaving some 90,000 people abroad.
One estimate suggests 450 flights are needed to repatriate the rest of the stranded passengers. The CAA said 12,000 people had so far been brought home on 52 relief flights to the UK.
One estimate suggests a total of 450 flights will be needed to repatriate the rest of the stranded passengers.
The BBC's James Shaw said many of those who had managed to return during Friday night and Saturday morning were "tired and frustrated" after the anxiety of the last 24 hours, but also "relieved to be home".The BBC's James Shaw said many of those who had managed to return during Friday night and Saturday morning were "tired and frustrated" after the anxiety of the last 24 hours, but also "relieved to be home".
The airlines operating the returning flights include BA, Monarch and Astraeus, which flew in from destinations including Tenerife, Orlando and Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt.The airlines operating the returning flights include BA, Monarch and Astraeus, which flew in from destinations including Tenerife, Orlando and Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt.
CAA EMERGENCY HELPLINE Customers abroad: +44 (0) 2891 856547Customers in the UK with advance bookings: 0870 5900927CAA EMERGENCY HELPLINE Customers abroad: +44 (0) 2891 856547Customers in the UK with advance bookings: 0870 5900927
The lead singer of Iron Maiden, Bruce Dickinson, who works as a pilot for the UK charter airline Astraeus, flew a plane back to the UK from Sharm El Sheikh. He said people had given up leave to get a crew together for the flight.The lead singer of Iron Maiden, Bruce Dickinson, who works as a pilot for the UK charter airline Astraeus, flew a plane back to the UK from Sharm El Sheikh. He said people had given up leave to get a crew together for the flight.
In Alicante about 522 passengers have been stranded after three flights to Glasgow, Gatwick and Manchester were cancelled.In Alicante about 522 passengers have been stranded after three flights to Glasgow, Gatwick and Manchester were cancelled.
So far only one replacement flight has been confirmed, chartered from Monarch Airlines by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).So far only one replacement flight has been confirmed, chartered from Monarch Airlines by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
The flight is due to leave on Saturday evening and repatriate the passengers who were scheduled to fly to Manchester, about 180 of those stranded in Alicante.The flight is due to leave on Saturday evening and repatriate the passengers who were scheduled to fly to Manchester, about 180 of those stranded in Alicante.
The Civil Aviation Authority has also been chartering planes from airlines including British Airways, Easyjet and Thomson. The CAA has also been chartering planes from airlines including British Airways, Easyjet and Thomson.
A number of airlines also said they had offered assistance to passengers stranded by the collapse of XL.A number of airlines also said they had offered assistance to passengers stranded by the collapse of XL.
XL COMPANIES XL Leisure GroupXL Airways UKExcel AviationExplorer HouseAspire HolidaysFreedom FlightsFreedom Flights (Aviation)The Really Great Holiday CompanyMedlife HotelsTravel City FlightsKosmar Villa Holidays Turbulent times for air industryQ&A: Options for passengersIn quotes: XL collapseXL COMPANIES XL Leisure GroupXL Airways UKExcel AviationExplorer HouseAspire HolidaysFreedom FlightsFreedom Flights (Aviation)The Really Great Holiday CompanyMedlife HotelsTravel City FlightsKosmar Villa Holidays Turbulent times for air industryQ&A: Options for passengersIn quotes: XL collapse
The decision to place XL Leisure Group into administration has left thousands of staff facing the axe. The decision to place XL Leisure Group into administration has left thousands of staff facing the axe and grounded XL's 21 planes. The company flies to about 50 destinations.
XL chairman Phil Wyatt has said the company's entire 1,700 UK workforce could be at risk.XL chairman Phil Wyatt has said the company's entire 1,700 UK workforce could be at risk.
Mr Wyatt said he was "totally devastated" by the failure which has grounded XL's 21 planes. The company flies to about 50 destinations.
There are 67,000 stranded who booked directly with XL, and another 23,000 who booked via other companies.There are 67,000 stranded who booked directly with XL, and another 23,000 who booked via other companies.
The CAA also said the firm had 200,000 advance bookings.The CAA also said the firm had 200,000 advance bookings.
Spokesman David Clover said package deals were covered by the CAA's Air Travel Organisers' Licensing scheme and those customers will be offered repatriation flights or their money back if they have an advance booking.Spokesman David Clover said package deals were covered by the CAA's Air Travel Organisers' Licensing scheme and those customers will be offered repatriation flights or their money back if they have an advance booking.
However, those who booked flights only with the airline or XL.com - who are in the minority, according to the CAA - will face a fee.However, those who booked flights only with the airline or XL.com - who are in the minority, according to the CAA - will face a fee.
Anyone yet to take their flights should check their insurance policies, and with their banks or credit card companies about refunds, he added.Anyone yet to take their flights should check their insurance policies, and with their banks or credit card companies about refunds, he added.
Some 10,000 only booked flights only with XL, and they will have to pay to get home, although the CAA has offered to sell them any spare tickets at cost price.Some 10,000 only booked flights only with XL, and they will have to pay to get home, although the CAA has offered to sell them any spare tickets at cost price.
'Weaker players''Weaker players'
There is now widespread speculation that other airlines may be about to follow in XL's wake and go bust.There is now widespread speculation that other airlines may be about to follow in XL's wake and go bust.
"I think there will be more failures, sadly, in the months to come," said aviation expert John Strickland of JLS Consulting."I think there will be more failures, sadly, in the months to come," said aviation expert John Strickland of JLS Consulting.
"We have a number of weaker players in a highly competitive market."
Passengers returning from Sharm el SheikhPassengers returning from Sharm el Sheikh
And bookmaker Paddy Power is offering odds on the next airline to go down.
It has emerged that the Irish betting organisation had to close its book on the collapse of XL 12 hours before the company folded.
Paddy Power took the action after a high volume of bets came flooding in on Thursday, but despite its actions the bookie still had to pay out about £15,000.
Simon Calder, travel editor of the Independent newspaper, said struggling Italian carrier Alitalia, which he said was making heavy losses every day, could be the next airline to go under.Simon Calder, travel editor of the Independent newspaper, said struggling Italian carrier Alitalia, which he said was making heavy losses every day, could be the next airline to go under.
"It has been making a loss for decades, and is always bailed out by the Italian government, " he said. On Saturday, an official from the airline warned it may have to cancel some flights because of a lack of funds to buy fuel.
"If the unions fail to sign up to a rescue deal with the government then the airline will disappear, but only momentarily. Following XL's collapse, and amid speculation concerning further airline company casualties, Virgin head Sir Richard Branson called for a review of the rules governing airlines.
"It will then re-appear as something like Alitalia Lite with billions of debt." He said planes grounded by the failure of their parent companies should be allowed to fly under the watch of the aviation regulator.
He claimed this would reduce disruption across the industry.
"It does not make sense for aircraft to be lying idle at UK airports when they should be used to bring back stranded passengers of that airline," he said.
Bob Atkinson, of online price comparison site Travelsupermarket.com, said there had been a surge in prices over the past 24 hours, in particular for flights during holiday periods such as Christmas.Bob Atkinson, of online price comparison site Travelsupermarket.com, said there had been a surge in prices over the past 24 hours, in particular for flights during holiday periods such as Christmas.
Referring to the recent era of cheap flights, he told BBC News: "It's going to be a number of years before we see anything like this again, if in fact we do."
Are you struggling to make your way home from your holiday destination? Have you paid for a holiday that you may not be able to take? If you were an employee of XL what are your views? Send us your comments using the form below.Are you struggling to make your way home from your holiday destination? Have you paid for a holiday that you may not be able to take? If you were an employee of XL what are your views? Send us your comments using the form below.
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