Thousands stranded as British holiday firm collapses

Source: AFP

LONDON (AFP) — Britain's third largest tour operator was on the brink of bankruptcy Friday, stranding up to 85,000 holidaymakers worldwide, as soaring fuel costs and the credit crunch had left it clinging to survival.

The near-collapse of XL Leisure Group added to travel chaos in Britain, where thousands more passengers were unable to take trains to France and Belgium on Friday because the Channel Tunnel remained closed after a fire.

XL Leisure Group, which trades under a host of names, including Travel City Flights, said it had failed to secure a multi-million-pound rescue package.

"The companies entered into administration having suffered as a result of volatile fuel prices, the economic downturn, and were unable to obtain further funding," XL said in a statement.


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Bush-God forbids the American middle class to travel outside his wondrous creation - the USA.

This is not about the American middle class. And it is in fact all about travel outside the US. This story is about the UK, the British Middle Class, and travel outside the UK.

I agree that Bush has massacred our travel industry. But this story is not about our travel industry but theirs. The one Tony Blair ruined.

Blair-Bush.

And this story is just not about America. It is about the UK. That is the whole of my point. And at this point the main difference between Bush and Blair is they got rid of Blair and we still retain Bush.

been left in places such as Orlando and Tenerife...it is one of those cheaper flight companies that allows people to fly that would not be able to afford it.
Som people were already on the plane home and were told to get off because XL had gone bust..Others had saved for a year for a holiday and woke up to the news or found out at Manchester Airport.
The XL Chief Executive was almost in tears on the evening news and many European airlines are shaken...Madrid is still recovering from that plane crash.. .This is especially bad this week because this morning the fire in the Channel Tunnel still wasn't out so the train is not running... This makes it even more difficult for travel companies, the ones that sell trips to Disneyland Paris will be hit...

UK :)

and why they aren't forced to either buy the asset they sold customers or keep the cash until they do is maddening.

It seems they play it right to the edge. They take the customer's money while not knowing if they will be able to deliver the services. Seems deceptive.

and the beginning of the recession that is hitting Europe... The CEO for XL looks devestated and other travel companies are shitting themselves...
I actually think the British Government is going to collapse under the pressure, Tory Britain is not far away.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/2826370/XL-holiday-firm-collapse-Dozens-more-travel-firms-will-go-under-experts-say.html
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2008/09/12/scots-left-stranded-as-travel-giant-xl-goes-bust-and-grounds-all-flights-86908-20733764/
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article4740233.ece