STARAVIATION :- I really can not believe that you have a problem with the negative press, on the basis of a great deal of Excel's (longhaul at least) services, such criticism is thoroughly deserved. It's NOT just the technical side, that suggests that some flights are approaching downright dangerous, but also the conditions and the way that the passengers are treated.
Lets face it, Excel fly old clapped out 767's with a seat pitch to suit midgets, and IFE which is at best a joke & at worst non existent.
The airline is under resourced (or fully stretched) in terms of equipment. The staff's ability to handle and communicate to those that are inconvenienced by the inevitable delays is also "not good". That they may be pulling out of longhaul, then bl**dy brilliant!, but then this is probably just before they are forced to by being dropped by tour operators. It's probably also the best way forward to consolidate what they have left of a short haul operation.