Holidays Cancelled for 1,000

UP TO 1,000 holidaymakers due to fly with travel firm XL from Birmingham International Airport this week have had to cancel.

The operator, which went into administration on Friday, was set to fly six planes chartered from Air Malta from Birmingham by Thursday.

Each aircraft carries 180 passengers and, according to an airport spokeswoman, the majority were likely to be fly with XL.

Following the collapse, clients have been told their holiday is no longer available.

This week’s outbound flights – one yesterday, three today, one on Wednesday and one on Thursday – will be employed to bring home stranded tourists.

An airport spokeswoman said: “People on flights coming back this week will already have been out a week or two.

“The main aim for the Civil Aviation Authority is to get people back.”

The airport said the majority of people booked with XL were getting in touch with their booking agent to make alternative holiday arrangements.

About 90,000 tourists have been left stranded since the collapse, but most are covered by the Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing scheme.

(c) 2008 Evening Mail; Birmingham (UK). Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.