No significant impact to Saint Lucia from XL Airways bankruptcy
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Contact: Kirby Allain - Saint Lucia Tourist Board
Monday, 15 September 2008 – The bankruptcy of the UK-based XL Airline and Holiday Company will not significantly impact Saint Lucia. So says Acting Director of Tourism for the Saint Lucia Tourist Board Louis Lewis, following the announcement of the XL's demise.
XL flew once weekly into Saint Lucia from the UK's Gatwick airport with a flight that was shared with neighbouring Barbados. Mr. Lewis indicated that the Saint Lucia Tourist Board had been in contact with Saint Lucia Representative Services—the local company which handled XL passengers—and has been informed that approximately 70 holidaymakers from the UK, who booked with XL, have been impacted.
"These visitors will be cared for under the protection of the UK Civil Aviation Authority and arrangements are in train to have them flown out of the island by Tuesday this week. An additional small number arrived here via XL on a flight-only basis and they will require some assistance in returning home, “said Lewis.
Arrangements are being made in that regard and both Virgin Atlantic and British Airways have been providing vital support in the effort. Since the beginning of 2008 XL delivered just 4,381 passengers to Saint Lucia out of a total of 58,260 passengers who arrived on flights from the United Kingdom so far this year. The vast majority of UK arrivals into Saint Lucia do so via Virgin Atlantic (which brought 48,102 passengers between January and August) and British Airways. Virgin Atlantic flies non-stop three times per week between Gatwick and Saint Lucia and non-stop once a week between Manchester and Saint Lucia.
It has been known for some time that XL would cease operating into the Caribbean this coming winter and as a result Saint Lucia negotiated an agreement whereby British Airways will radically improve its schedule. As of Sunday October 26th, 2008, British Airways will commence flying three times a week non-stop between Gatwick and Saint Lucia, rather than via Antigua, as at present. Consequently Saint Lucia will see no loss of seats from the United Kingdom for this coming winter season as a result of the loss of XL service. |
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