V-Flyer

XL Airways has cancelled its entire flying programme to the Caribbean from November 2008 onwards. There could be a rush for Virgin flights as a result.







Edit to thread title to update story...... Nick

Now that's brutal!

Travel agents already saying some people could lose their holidays at Christmas as availability is SO low.

Another strike due to the current economic climate? I am sure VS and BA will be happy in a way as it should mean lots of full a/c for them.

I have spent most of today re-booking clients!

Another airline stepping inso unless VS are increasing capacity here they may not gain from this.

Originally posted by Neil
Another strike due to the current economic climate? I am sure VS and BA will be happy in a way as it should mean lots of full a/c for them.

Either that or some passengers might not bother going after all.

Sign of the times, and it isn't nice!

Originally posted by Bill S
Another airline stepping inso unless VS are increasing capacity here they may not gain from this.

A300? If it's a UK operator, sounds like it could be Monarch then?

Mike

Originally posted by Neil
Another strike due to the current economic climate? I am sure VS and BA will be happy in a way as it should mean lots of full a/c for them.

Also on that thought whilst these companies go out of business VS and BA will have less competition[}:)], resulting in higher ticket prices, cant wait to see how much vancouver direct will be now with one less competitor[:?]
Are we gonna be going backwards in terms of ticket pricing and monopolies to single airline destinations if the competition falls away? 'hmmm i wonder'

Alex

That news article stated that XL used a 737 to fly to Tobago - wrong - it was a 767 - so perhaps they got the bit about the new airline wrong too!

Originally posted by barnstaple
That news article stated that XL used a 737 to fly to Tobago - wrong - it was a 767 - so perhaps they got the bit about the new airline wrong too!

Well I am happy to hear that, a 738 hold 269 pax would not be a place I wanted to be, hell an A300 hold 350 would suck

I am just back from and XL (TCD) holiday - never again. Perhaps people have started voting with their feet? They cancelled our upgrade on the way home, knew of the change 3 days before the flight but let everyone board (without telling them of the change) to find an all economy plane which was (NO JOKE) WORSE than Easyjet for 8.5hrs. Appalling!

Seems this may be even more serious for XL.

Originally posted by bubblesqueaker
I am just back from and XL (TCD) holiday - never again. Perhaps people have started voting with their feet? They cancelled our upgrade on the way home, knew of the change 3 days before the flight but let everyone board (without telling them of the change) to find an all economy plane which was (NO JOKE) WORSE than Easyjet for 8.5hrs. Appalling!

They did that to us a few years ago from Orlando. Never told us we were being bumped from sunshine first into Y, just let us get on the plane to find out. We never suspected a thing as we were allocated 1AC which was the same as the way out, obviously they had changed the plane on the return. Not happy bunnies and never flown with them since though that has been VS & BD's gain and ours tbh too

Did they refund you Daywalker? They have another week and a bit before the 28 days are up. Im worried they are stalling because of the recent announcements.

I am so sad that XL is going.

I used to use them once every two years or so to go home and see my parents in Trinidad. I got a return flight for 320 one year. Now they are going, there will be less competition and prices will get more expensive. I know they dont have the same glamour as Virgin or BA but they still did the same job - to take me home to see the folks. I am sure the other island folks will miss them.

Originally posted by mike-smashing

Originally posted by Bill S
Another airline stepping inso unless VS are increasing capacity here they may not gain from this.

A300? If it's a UK operator, sounds like it could be Monarch then?

Mike, Looks like you were right about Monarch.

Originally posted by Bill S

Originally posted by mike-smashing

Originally posted by Bill S
Another airline stepping inso unless VS are increasing capacity here they may not gain from this.

A300? If it's a UK operator, sounds like it could be Monarch then?

Mike, Looks like you were right about Monarch.

Although the quality of reporting is shocking. Apparently MON are flying an aircraft that is not even in the skies yet!

MON have previously served GND and TAB so no real surprise to see them back.

And I don't recall Excel ever having served Miami on a regular basis - could they be meaning Sanford?!

One thing to remember is that XL's Caribbean routes totaled 6 flights a week, we are not talking about a whole lot of activity for an airline of XL's size, also the Island governments were subsidizing the routes, this money was stopped, so XL moved the aircraft to where they could make more money.

I didn't realise they were subsidised. That makes their decision more understandable.

I read somewhere that they were loosing on average 100 per seat

No linky at the moment, but the BBC is reporting XL has filed for bankruptcy/administration.

Tomorrows flight from Sanford is rumoured to be the last.

The Times is also following this: http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/b ... 735790.ece

I now understand why XL where offering travel industry staff flights to the Caribbean for 199 return...

Originally posted by nevadakaz
No linky at the moment, but the BBC is reporting XL has filed for bankruptcy/administration.

Tomorrows flight from Sanford is rumoured to be the last.

This

-Steve

Very sorry to hear the latest news.
Many people lose jobs and pay.

XL announcement

Just turned on Sky News to find it dominating the headlines.

Very sad for all those who work for XL and all those holidaymakers from not only the UK but all over the world who are affected.

Of course XL was previously Excel Airlines and before that Sabre, so an airline with a large bit of history. I am guessing the French, Australian and German sides of the operation have also ceased operations.

One would imagine VS will be stepping in to help those 'stranded' in MCO by TCD.

I wonder what will happen to the 330's they have on order? I am sure they will be snapped up by someone.

So rising costs have taken their first major casualty in the UK.

(Mods could we change the title of this thread to XL Gone Bankrupt).