The XL Leisure Group – UK has collapsed leaving an estimated 85,000 holidaymakers stranded abroad and another 200,000 holding advanced bookings.

The XL Leisure Group which comprises the following companies: XL Airways UK Limited, Excel Aviation Limited, Explorer House Limited, Aspire Holidays Limited, Freedom Flights Limited, Freedom Flights (Aviation) Limited, The Really Great Holiday Company plc, Medlife Hotels Limited, Travel City Flights Limited, Kosmar Villa Holidays plc, ceased trading this morning blaming volatile fuel prices and the economic downturn.

All customers due to fly from the UK should not travel to the airport as all flights from the UK are now cancelled.

Flights booked with the French & German arm of XL Airways – flight nos: XLF and GXL are unaffected by the failure.

The XL Leisure Group (XLLG) in the UK was made up of four tour operators, XL Airways and Medlife Hotels.

The following companies were ATOL protected:

• The Really Great Holiday Company PLC - ATOL 3827 -Trading as: Cruise City, Excel Holidays, The Florida Skytrain, Transatlantic Vacations, Travel City Direct and Travel City International

• Kosmar Villa Holidays PLC - ATOL 1760 - Trading as: Kosmar Holidays

• Freedom Flights Limited - ATOL 5296 -Trading as: Freedom Flights

• Aspire Holidays Limited - ATOL 6536 -Trading as: Aspire Holidays

Customers stranded abroad who booked their holiday or flight with an ATOL tour operator will be covered by the ATOL protection and the CAA will make arrangements for them to complete their holiday and fly home.

Medlife and XL Airways flight nos XL booked direct with the airline are not covered by the ATOL protection.

For more information and an ATOL claim form check out the CAA’s website.

An ATOL emergency call room has been set up:
Calls from within UK: 0870 5900 927
Calls from abroad: 02891 85 6547