XL ist der drittgrößte Reiseveranstalter in Großbritannien. Das Unternehmen unterhält auch eine eigene Fluglinie.

Wie das Unternehmen meldet, wäre der Schritt notwendig geworden wegen steigender Kerosin-Preise und zurückgehender Nachfrage aufgrund nachlassender Konjunktur.

Besonders tragisch: Als eine Maschine von XL heute morgen in London schon zur Startbahn rollte, um nach Orlando, Florida, zu fliegen, wurde der Start wegen der Pleite abgebrochen. Das Flugzeug musste zurück zum Gate, alle Passagier mussten aussteigen. Auf dem Flughafen Gatwick (London) spielten sich entsetzliche Szenen ab.

Da es in GB keine Versicherung gibt, stehen die meisten Passagiere derzeit alleine da. Für Ersatz müssen sie selbser sorgen. Das Chaos auf den Flughäfen soll riesig sein. Insgesamt hätte XL derzeit Verpflichtungen für über 200000 Kunden, die bei dem Unternehmen Flüge oder Urlaub gebucht haben. 

AP:

Tens of thousands of holidaymakers were left stranded after the UK'sthird largest tour operator went into administration and grounded allflights.

XL Leisure Group declared bankruptcy having failed to secure a rescue package amid deep financial difficulties.

Thegroup, which had still been taking holiday bookings until recently,said all its flights had been cancelled and its fleet of aircraftgrounded. It said it had been hit by rising fuel costs and the creditcrunch.

Scores of disappointed XL customers queued at the firm'smain airport Gatwick, one of the busiest days of the week for holidayflights. Many had no idea what had happened until they were told byairport officials.

Telegraph:

Up to 85,000 Britons are thought to be on holidays run by the company, which flies to 50 destinations, mainly in the Mediterranean.

A further 200,000 who have made bookings with XL, which trades under names such as Kosmar, Travel City Direct and the Really Great Holiday Company, are set to have their holidays ruined, after all its flights were grounded.

The firm went into administration at 3am on Friday after failing to secure a multi-million pound rescue package. In a statement it blamed problems caused by "volatile fuel prices and the economic downturn".

Its last flight, due to go to Orlando, was cancelled as it moved down the runway to prepare for take-off at Gatwick airport.