Almost 2,000 Cork passengers hit by XL collapse

More than 1,600 people due to fly from Cork Airport in the coming weeks have lost out on their holiday

A further 360 are figuring out how they will get home after the UK’s third largest tour operator XL Leisure Group plc has gone into administration.

Thousands of Irish tourists have been hit with cancellations as a result, while 1,500 Irish were left stranded abroad today.

XL operates a Cork to Faro flight out and back on Sundays, and a Cork to Santorini, Greece flight out and back on Tuesdays. A group of 180 travelled to Santorini last Tuesday and another 180 Faro last Sunday before the news of the operator going bust emerged.

It is believed that a charter flight for passengers from Santorini to Cork will be organised by Ireland’s Aviation Regulator on Tuesday.

Four more flights were due to travel out every Sunday and Tuesday from Cork until October 7, when the flight was due to finish its season.

Approximately 1,960 passengers will now have their holiday plans cancelled as a result.

Offering advice a spokesperson for Cork Airport said anyone worried about their loved ones abroad or trying to make travel arrangements for them, should contact the XL hotline for guidance first.

The XL.com website this morning explained that the companies owned by the operator went into administration this morning having suffered as a result of volatile fuel prices and the economic downturn, and were unable to obtain further funding.

A spokesperson for the State-run Commission for the Aviation Regulator, which regulates the aviation and certain aspects of the travel trade in Ireland, said: “The commission will seek to make arrangements to allow the repatriation of customers who booked directly with XL Holidays, and who are currently abroad, to return home.

“However, such passengers who are due to return home today should make their own way home and claim their costs from the Commission on their return using the XL Leisure Claim form.

“Customers of XL Holidays who have booked directly with this tour operator and paid for holidays and who have yet to commence their journey will be unable to travel. They should make a claim to the commission for a refund.”

Speaking to the Evening Echo newspaper, a spokesperson for the regulator said the passengers in Cork may be the lucky ones.

“The passengers due to fly back in the next 48 hours are the most vulnerable because we still need to make arrangements for them, but come Tuesday we will have chartered a flight for repatriation.”

He also explained that for those that have booked directly with XL holidays through tour operators or travel agents, they can claim back their costs through the regulator, but for those that have booked on credit or debit card they will have to contact their credit or debit agency.

This is the latest in a number of airlines to go bust, with 67,000 people currently abroad with XL.

For help and advice contact the XL helpline on 0044-2082424783. To claim from the Aviation Regulator log onto www.aviationreg.ie or call [phone].

Article courtesy of The Evening Echo newspaper