Hundreds stranded abroad as airline goes bust

HUNDREDS of Irish holiday-makers have been left stranded overseas after the collapse of one of Britain’s largest tour operators.

Many were left scrambling to find emergency accommodation in Greece and Spain when they realised their XL Holidays flights had been grounded.

The tour operator was part of the XL Leisure Group which went intoadministration in the early hours of Thursday morning, crushed by rising fuel costsand the credit crunch.

About 67,000 people, mostly from Britain, who travelled with the firm are still abroad and facing uncertainty about their return.

Up to 1,500 tourists, who booked trips with the doomed company’s Irish arm, are among those overseas while another 3,000 had booked their holiday with the operator but were yet to travel.

Commissioner for Aviation Regulation, Cathal Guiomard, advised those expecting to take holidays with Irish-licensed XL Holidays to obtain a claim form on the commission’s website (www.aviationreg.ie).

He warned, however, that customers of associated companies and those who had booked flights directly through XL Airways were not covered.

Mr Guiomard said that from today the commission would be arranging aircraft to bring those stranded on holiday home.

The commission said customers would also be able to claim back reasonable expenses incurred by the extended stay.

Those who have paid in advance for their trip with XL Holidays and are unable to travel are also being advised to make a claim to the commission.

The latest collapse follows the suspension of all flights by charter airline Futura Gael last Mondays and the low-fares airline Zoom in August. Three Irish travel groups also collapsed recently — Ronane Travel Ltd, trading as Great Escapes, Gerry McMahon trading as Fáilte Travel and MacLaverty Travel Limited.

Ryanair has offered the use of one of its aircraft to the British aviation authority over the next two weeks to bring back stranded holiday-makers.

Ryanair’s deputy chief executive, Michael Cawley, said the latest collapse of yet another bankrupt airline was positive proof that passengers should not book their holidays with financially stretched airlines such as XL.

XL chief executive Phil Wyatt said he was “devastated” at the company’s collapse and apologised to his customers and employees.

Speaking at a press conference, he admitted the company had debts of stg£143 million (€180m) but insisted it did not have to fail.

In an emotional statement, he said: “Up until 9pm last night [Thursday] there was dialogue with the CAA and individuals were coming forward with money potentially to put into the business.”