Midland travel misery after collapse of XL airline

Sep 14 2008 By Anuji Varma

HOLIDAYMAKERS in the Midlands faced a second day of travel misery yesterday following the collapse of the airline XL.

Families travelling to the Greek island of Kos turned up at Birmingham International Airport only to find their 1.25pm flight had been cancelled.

Up to 134 people were due to fly on the Air Malta jet which had been chartered by the company before it went into administration.

Most were unaware of the problems because their tickets did not clearly state it was an XL flight.

Worcester-born Michael Buckman, 59, had planned a trip to celebrate his 60th birthday with partner Elaine Allsopp, who was close to tears when they learned of the cancellation.

Picture framer Elaine, 57, said: “I feel so sad and upset. We had planned this holiday especially to celebrate my partner’s birthday and now this has happened.

“We paid £450 in total for the flights and had booked accommodation ourselves. We can’t afford to go anywhere else. I had phoned up Air Malta earlier this week to check baggage weight and there was no mention of this problem.

“I don’t know what we are going to do now and I’m not sure if we will get the money back because I paid for the flights on my debit card.”

Graham McCrossan, 65 and wife Avril, of Bridgnorth, Shropshire, were hoping to be reunited with friends in Kos after forking out £700 for the holiday.

But Graham, who suffers from a heart condition, said: “I don’t think we’re going to see them now. We were all looking forward to the reunion and I know that they are waiting for us at the airport in Kos.

“Now I will have to call them and break the bad news. This isn’t good for my condition at all. I am very angry and extremely upset. I just hope I can get our money back.

“But of course there are other costs as well. I paid £100 for travel insurance and another £50 for car parking at the airport.”

XL Leisure Group was forced into administration earlier this week. Chief executive Phil Wyatt admitted it would be a ‘‘huge challenge’’ to bring home the 85,000 people who are currently overseas on holidays organised by the firm. But last night the vast majority of holidaymakers hit by the collapse of Britain’s third largest tour operator were told they would be flown back on their original departure date.

The Civil Aviation Authority – the body tasked with repatriating package tour customers - confirmed that passengers would be able to get replacement flights on their original return dates or, in the worst cases, on the following day.

Holidaymakers flying into Gatwick Airport on a specially-chartered Monarch Airlines flight from Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, spoke of their relief at getting home yesterday.

Redditch mum Alison Hill, 37, said she was left in tears yesterday as she worried she would not be able to find a flight back to the UK.

Ms Hill who spent 10 days in the resort with her two-year-old son, Samuel, said she found out that XL had gone into administration as she lay in bed in her hotel room watching the news on Friday morning.

She said: “No-one actually told me, I had to find it out for myself.

“I spent the whole day in tears in reception with a very unhappy two-year-old, wondering if I was ever going to get home.’’

A statement on the Foreign Office website said its embassies were providing “advice and information” to those affected.