Flights hope for stranded tourists

The vast majority of holidaymakers hit by the collapse of Britain's third largest tour operator will be flown back on their original departure date, the aviation regulator said today.

Some 85,000 people were left stranded when XL Leisure Group went into administration early yesterday morning, grounding its fleet of planes and plunging the travel industry into turmoil.

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But the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) - the body tasked with repatriating package tour customers - confirmed that passengers would be able to get replacement flights on their original return dates or in the worst cases on the following day.

The airlift was yesterday described as the "the most challenging ever undertaken" by XL's chief executive Peter Wyatt and is expected to cost some £20 million.

Specially chartered flights have been brought in, while spare seats on already scheduled flights are being used to bring them back to the UK.

Alongside the 75,000 customers covered by Atol, room will also be available for the 10,000 people who booked XL flights independently - although they will have to pay for the privilege.

A CAA spokesman said: "Some people in Orlando had to stay an extra night, but generally people are flying back on the same day."

But thousands of outbound XL customers will have to make alternative plans on their own.

Some 200,000 people in total have seen future holiday plans go up in smoke as a result of the tour operator's collapse, although most will be compensated.

XL went into administration shortly before 3am yesterday after failing to secure a rescue package.

Shropshire couple Amanda and David Nathan, of Ash, near Whitchurch, were among those stranded in Egypt.

The couple are coming to the end of their week's holiday.

They booked their break with holiday travel company Libra, which used XL as a flight carrier, through Travelmaster Holidays in Whitchurch.

Mrs Nathan said: "We are not going to let it ruin our last few days, at least we are on the right side.

"We feel very sorry for people stuck at the airport waiting to go on holiday."

By Neil Thomas and Faye Barker