New travel agency promises price war

THE boss of a new travel company yesterday pledged to start a holiday price war and send 65,000 passengers a year on cheap breaks to the sun.

XL Holidays is being launched by Bill Smith, who was one of the founders of the High Street travel giant Falcon Holidays.

The new firm will fly to the Greek islands of Santorini and Skiathos as well as favourite hotspots like Majorca and Lanzarote.

“We aim to introduce tough new competition into the market,” said Mr Smith, XL’s managing director.

“The Irish public are taking more holidays than ever before and we believe we will fill an important gap in the market.”

Holidaymakers can fly on XL’s own 189-seater aircraft from Dublin, Cork and Knock with additional services promised from Ireland’s regional airports.

Sunseekers will be able to book holidays online via the www.xl.com website or through traditional brochures at travel agents.

Among the company’s opening deals is a one-week holiday, starting at €199 per person, in the Spanish resort of Santa Ponsa in Mallorca.

Other offers include €259 per person for a week on the Spanish island of Lanzarote and €369 for a week in a beach resort in Cyprus.

XL Holidays said it aimed to send 65,000 people on cheap holidays in its first year with room for more.

Consumer champions last night welcomed the new player in the holiday market, saying greater choice would be good for the public.

“The holiday market needs a greater competitive edge — new offers are what it’s all about,” said Dermott Jewell of the Consumers Association of Ireland.

Travel consultant John G O’Dwyer said XL Holidays was cashing in on the growing preference of holidaymakers to go online to book their place in the sun.

“It’s all about cutting out the travel agent and the trend is for people to go online to book sun holidays,” he said.