Over 46,000 XL passengers flown home
More than 46,000 passengers left abroad with the collapse of the XL Leisure Group have been flown home in the week since the operator went down.
The 38,000 remaining holidaymakers due to complete their breaks are due to be flown home this week.
A total of 199 repatriation flights have been organised from 40 destinations to bring back the initial 46,765, according to the Civil Aviation Authority on Friday.
The CAA’s helpline has received more than 84,000 calls from customers, of whom 57,000 learned what they needed to from recordings and 27,000 spoke to helpline agents over the past seven days.
In addition, the ATOL website received more than 148,000 individual views over the week.
Those flown home include passengers booked with XL tour operators, XL Airways and other tour operators that shared XL Airways flights.
The CAA is continuing to work with Thomas Cook, Thomson, First Choice and Virgin Holidays to ensure ATOL-protected holidaymakers can complete their holidays with no extra costs and travel home at the end of their stay.
The flights currently organised by the CAA are from Alicante, Malaga (Spain); Palma (Majorca); Athens, Chania, Corfu, Heraklion, Kalamata, Kavala, Kefalonia, Kos, Lesbos, Mykonos, Preveza, Rhodes, Samos, Santorini, Skiathos, Zante (Greece); Bodrum, Dalaman (Turkey); Cagliari (Sardinia); Faro (Portugal); Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt); Bridgetown (Barbados); Antigua, Grenada, St Kitts, St Lucia, Tobago (Caribbean); Larnaca, Paphos (Cyprus); Orlando, Sanford (Florida); Arrecife (Lanzarote); Fuerteventura, Las Palmas, Tenerife (Canaries); Mahon (Minorca).
Arrival airports in the UK are Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, Leeds Bradford, Manchester and Newcastle.
CAA consumer protection director Richard Jackson said: “I want to take this opportunity to thank the industry, particularly the tour operators’ overseas representatives, with whom we have worked, for all their extensive efforts on the ground over the course of the past week.
“Their important contribution has greatly helped the smooth repatriation for the vast majority of XL holidaymakers and allowed many others to complete their holidays.â€
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026