Some 38,000 British tourists still stranded abroad by the collapse of XL are to be flown home this week.
The Civil Aviation Authority says most had been on two-week breaks when XL’s 21 planes were grounded on 12 September. It also says that in the week following XL’s collapse, 199 flights carrying 46,765 passengers flew back to the UK from 40 holiday destinations.
A spokesman for the CAA said that after the initial upheaval caused by the collapse, the return of holidaymakers had been relatively smooth.
He encouraged those still on holiday to enjoy the rest of their break, as they should not have to pay extra for hotel bills.
All Atol-protected travellers are able to travel back on flights organised by the CAA.
Those not on package trips are still being offered places on these flights for a “reasonable cost”.
In the week following XL’s collapse the CAA helpline received 84,000 calls and the Atol website received more than 148,000 visitors.
Some 85,000 XL customers were abroad when the travel company’s flights were grounded.
About 50,000 of these were on Atol-protected package breaks.
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