XL Leisure Group

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XL Leisure Group
XL Leisure Group
FormerlyExcel Airways Group
Type Private
Industry Package holidays
FoundedNovember 2004
DefunctSeptember 2008
Fateadministration
Headquarters Crawley, West Sussex, UK
Area served
United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia
Key people
CEO: Philip Wyatt
Chairman: Peter Owen
Brands
  • XL
  • XL Holidays
  • XL Brand
Subsidiaries XL Airways UK
XL Airways France
XL Airways Germany

The XL Leisure Group (XLLG) was a major tour operating company in the UK, consisting of charter and scheduled airlines, holiday companies and flight-only tour operators. It also had operations in France, Germany, Ireland, Australia and Cyprus. The group's UK companies were placed into administration on 12 September 2008.

Contents

History

The company began as Excel Airways Group. It was bought by the Icelandic Avion Group in November 2004, previously being owned by the Icelandic Flugfelagid Atlanta HF. In October 2006, there was a $450m management buyout of the company, although the Avion Group retained 49% of the company. It became XL Leisure Group on 22 December 2006. The French subsidiary, XL Airways France, used to be Star Airlines, while the German subsidiary XL Airways Germany began as Star Europe. At its height, it flew from 12 UK airports. The Irish airline began in May 2006.

Administration

XL Leisure Group confirmed on their website that 11 companies associated with the group had been put into administration on 12 September 2008. This includes XL Airways UK Limited, Excel Aviation Limited, Explorer House Limited, Aspire Holidays Limited, Freedom Flights Limited, The Really Great Holiday Company plc, Travel City Direct. [1] It was the biggest collapse of a British tour operator since 1974 when Court Line became insolvent, affecting 50,000 travellers. XL Airways Germany ceased operations in 2012, while XL Airways France ceased operations in 2019.

Market share

XLLG claimed it was the third largest tour operating company in the UK. Prior to entering administration, it was the main shirt sponsor of West Ham United F.C. until the club terminated the partnership with immediate effect on 12 September. [2] [3]

Member companies

At the time the Group entered administration in September 2008, it was made up of the following companies and shareholdings:

Travel City Direct's TF-AME seen at Manchester Airport Travel City Direct Boeing 747-312 by Paul Spijkers.jpg
Travel City Direct's TF-AME seen at Manchester Airport

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References

  1. "Thousands stranded by XL collapse". BBC News Online. 12 September 2008. Retrieved 12 September 2008.
  2. "Club ends relationship with XL". whufc.com. 12 September 2008. Archived from the original on 13 September 2008. Retrieved 12 September 2008.
  3. Gardner, Alan (12 September 2008). "Hammers hit by backer's collapse". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 12 September 2008.