This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/7613743.stm

The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Planes sought for holiday Britons Stranded Britons returning to UK
(about 2 hours later)
The Civil Aviation Authority is arranging for planes to collect British holidaymakers stranded following the collapse of the tour operator XL. Passengers stranded when tour operator XL collapsed have been arriving back in the UK after aviation authorities arranged planes for their collection.
The business's 21 planes were grounded, leaving some 90,000 people abroad. Passengers have been returning to Gatwick and Manchester on specially chartered flights and on pre-scheduled flights that have spare seats.
The Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (Atol) scheme said "repatriation aircraft" were being organised. XL's 21 planes were grounded on Friday, leaving some 90,000 people abroad.
A spokesman said many passengers were expected to return on specially chartered flights and on pre-scheduled flights that have spare seats. The Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (Atol) scheme has organised a number of "repatriation aircraft".
Atol spokesman David Clover said he hoped there would be an "orderly repatriation". Among the flights into Gatwick Airport was a specially-chartered Monarch Airlines aircraft from Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt.
The CAA is chartering planes from airlines including British Airways, Easyjet and Thompson. CAA EMERGENCY HELPLINE Customers abroad: +44 (0) 2891 856547Customers in the UK with advance bookings: 0870 5900927 BBC reporter Nicola Pearson said stranded British holidaymakers leaving the Egyptian resort were "tired and relieved".
Virgin Atlantic has said XL passengers who are stranded at airports in Florida and the Caribbean will be offered special one-way fares to fly home until the end of September. The lead singer of Iron Maiden, Bruce Dickinson, who works as a pilot with the UK charter airline Astraeus has also just returned from a flight to Sharm El Sheikh.
Peter Long, chief executive of Thomson and First Choice owner TUI Travel, said his firm would also assist with helping stranded passengers. He said people had given up leave to get a crew together for the flight. The Civial Aviation Authority has been chartering planes from airlines including British Airways, Easyjet and Thompson.
CAA EMERGENCY HELPLINE Customers abroad: +44 (0) 2891 856547Customers in the UK with advance bookings: 0870 5900927
Virgin Atlantic has offered XL passengers stranded at airports in Florida and the Caribbean special one-way fares to fly home until the end of September.
Peter Long, chief executive of Thomson and First Choice owner TUI Travel, also said his firm would be assisting with helping stranded passengers.
And airlines Flybe, Easyjet, BMI and Ryanair had also offered various forms of assistance.And airlines Flybe, Easyjet, BMI and Ryanair had also offered various forms of assistance.
Applause Special service
"The rescue mission to bring these passengers home begins in earnest today," said BBC business correspondent Joe Lynam."The rescue mission to bring these passengers home begins in earnest today," said BBC business correspondent Joe Lynam.
BBC reporter Nicola Pearson joined one specially chartered plane in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheik.
XL Chief Executive Phil Wyatt says he is devastated by the collapseXL Chief Executive Phil Wyatt says he is devastated by the collapse
She said its passengers applauded when the captain said they had come on a rescue mission, and that the cabin crew was made up of staff from two different airlines - some had been called in from a day off.
There will need to be hundreds of flights like this to bring back the tens of thousands of British tourists stranded abroad, our correspondent added.
Hundreds stranded in Alicante are being offered free flights back to the UK.Hundreds stranded in Alicante are being offered free flights back to the UK.
Thompson TUI and Thomas Cook say they will help repatriate the passengers, who have booked their flights through Atol-protected travel companies.Thompson TUI and Thomas Cook say they will help repatriate the passengers, who have booked their flights through Atol-protected travel companies.
And a special one-off service is being offered by Monarch Iberia on Saturday evening for people travelling to Manchester - Monarch Iberia does not normally fly to Manchester.And a special one-off service is being offered by Monarch Iberia on Saturday evening for people travelling to Manchester - Monarch Iberia does not normally fly to Manchester.
Jobs fearsJobs fears
The decision to place XL Leisure Group into administration has also left thousands of staff facing the axe.The decision to place XL Leisure Group into administration has also left thousands of staff facing the axe.
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.
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
Mr Wyatt said he was "totally devastated" by the failure which has grounded XL's 21 planes. The company flies to about 50 destinations.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.
David Clover, a spokesman for the CAA, said it was making arrangements to help customers of the four tour companies within the XL group.David Clover, a spokesman for the CAA, said it was making arrangements to help customers of the four tour companies within the XL group.
"In respect of people who are currently abroad we're making arrangements and working very closely with the travel industry to organise repatriation flights."In respect of people who are currently abroad we're making arrangements and working very closely with the travel industry to organise repatriation flights.
"Clearly, though, with XL Airways no longer operating, we're having to bring in substitute aircraft to bring people home.""Clearly, though, with XL Airways no longer operating, we're having to bring in substitute aircraft to bring people home."
Cost priceCost price
Mr 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.Mr 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 directly with the airline or XL.com - who are in the minority, according to the CAA - will face a fee.However, those who booked directly 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.
Among those who have lost their flights and are unable to get a refund are David Hopkin and fiancee Clare Addis.Among those who have lost their flights and are unable to get a refund are David Hopkin and fiancee Clare Addis.
They were due to fly to St Lucia for their wedding, but as they had bought only flights with XL, and had paid for them by debit card, they are not due any refunds.They were due to fly to St Lucia for their wedding, but as they had bought only flights with XL, and had paid for them by debit card, they are not due any refunds.
Mr Hopkin, who worked for an XL company called Travel City Direct in Swansea, may also have lost his job in the collapse.Mr Hopkin, who worked for an XL company called Travel City Direct in Swansea, may also have lost his job in the collapse.
"It is just terrible," said Clare. "I broke down in floods of tears.""It is just terrible," said Clare. "I broke down in floods of tears."
'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.""We have a number of weaker players in a highly competitive market."
There are fears that more airlines could go bustAnd bookmaker Paddy Power is offering odds on the next airline to go down.There are fears that more airlines could go bustAnd 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.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.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 told the BBC website that 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 told the BBC website that 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."It has been making a loss for decades, and is always bailed out by the Italian government, " he said.
"If the unions fail to sign up to a rescue deal with the government then the airline will disappear, but only momentarily."If the unions fail to sign up to a rescue deal with the government then the airline will disappear, but only momentarily.
"It will then re-appear as something like Alitalia Lite with billions of debt.""It will then re-appear as something like Alitalia Lite with billions of debt."
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.
Name
 Name