Airlines offer help to stranded XL passengers

A number of airlines and tour operators have organised additional services to help people stranded following the collapse of the XL Leisure Group.

Bmi is among the airlines using its aircraft to help XL passengers, putting on extra services including an early morning flight from Heathrow Airport to Menorca.

The airline is also offering extra capacity to Brussels today to carry passengers who are unable to travel on Eurostar services following a fire in the Channel Tunnel.

XL, which was one of Britain's biggest package tour operators, went into administration after failing to secure new investment, blaming fuel prices and economic problems for its collapse.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), there are around 50,000 customers with XL tour operators now stranded abroad, as well as an additional 10,000 who flew with XL Airways and 25,000 with tour operators who shared XL flights.

A further 200,000 customers are thought to have advance bookings with XL tour operators.

Experienced travel firms and tour operators regularly come to the aid of passengers who find themselves stranded after a company goes bust. Travel agents also offer their customers the reassurance of being protected by the CAA's Air Travel Organisers' Licensing scheme.

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