XL chief 'devastated' by holiday firm's collapse

Sep 12 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

THE HEAD of the UK’s third largest tour operator said today he was “devastated” at the holiday company’s collapse.

XL Leisure Group chief executive Phil Wyatt said he believed his firm should not have been forced to go into administration.

He told a press conference it would be a “huge challenge” to bring home the 67,000 people currently overseas on holidays organised by XL.

A statement on the Foreign Office website said embassies were providing ``advice and information'' to those affected.

“We understand how unsettling this is for those who have travelled with XL,” it said. “The CAA has put in place measures to ensure those overseas will be able to get home.

“Where British nationals overseas face serious problems as a result of these events, we will provide consular assistance as we would in other cases.”

Mr Wyatt said XL's management team had ``worked night and day'' to try to refinance the company.

The tour operator was still taking bookings last night, but shortly before 3am today it was announced that administrators had been called in.

In an emotional statement the chief executive said that he had wanted to meet XL’s commitments even if it had its Air Travel Organisers’ Licence (ATOL) withdrawn.

He said he had remained in regular dialogue with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) over his company’s troubles in recent weeks.

XL’s aircraft are sitting on runways around the UK ready to bring British holidaymakers home but are not allowed to take off, he said.

Speaking at the Hilton Hotel at Gatwick Airport, Mr Wyatt said: “Unfortunately it’s been deemed by the authorities - the Government, whoever - that that’s impossible. I personally don’t believe that’s the case.”

He added: “The CAA, believe me, will have a huge challenge on their hands to re-protect 67,000 people that are overseas now - 67,000 people who could have flown back on XL Airways, that are going to come back on God-knows-what carriers that the CAA find.

“It’s going to be the most challenging airlift, I believe, that anyone has undertaken.”