Re:Freetime
 

You are absolutely right, we are waiting for the TSA in the United States to approve the freetime check-in for the XL France aircraft, the Gatwick service is operated by one of the Uk regsistered 767's so there is no porblem there. It could be earlier than August however, we are at the mercy of the TSA, but we are hoping for approval sometime in July.

Off Airport check-in
 

Off airport check-in in SFB has been suspended due to the XLF A330 operating the MAN and GLA routes. XL France as an independent operator do not have TSA approval to operate the downtown check-in despite the flight operating under an XLA flight number. This approval 'could' take some time to be issued so have no realistic idea when the service will be resumed. However if the flights was changed over to the other XLA B767-300 G-VKNI it would be able to operate under the current XL UK TSA approval. No sure if it is feasable to swap B763 for the A330?

Re:Freetime
 

We've sold the A330 all the way to the end of October, and the load fator is running at 99%,l NI only holds 273 so woud not work, plus its being used from the middle of July as extra capacity on the Gatwick/Sanford route on Friday and Saturday, other days its used on the caribbean routes.

We still have out finger crossed for an early approval as Iberworld was approved for the TSA check-in at our Lake Buena Vista location in just 33 days from the start of the operation......

Quote: just a side note the engineers have been having a few problems with it as of late. we had to connect it to an air start last week because the aircraft wasnt accepting ex pwr.

G-STAW


Looking at the flight schedules since the aircraft arrived early June, it seems to have been pretty punctual, with very few delays of any note. Certainly a different story to last year's 747 flights. Even departed on time, arrived early on a good number of occasions. Hope that maintains for the rest of the summer.

XL Airways B737-900
 

XL Airways have experienced a problem with one of there B737-900, the plane heading for Manchester was forced to land at Larnaca (Cyprus) Airport after they shut down one of the engines.

BBC NEWS | England | Manchester | Engine problem forces plane down

late arrival at Manchester
 

Hi all
First time poster - does anyone know anything about the big delay in the Sanford - Manchester flight (XLA1131) today please? Left Sanford late and arrived at Manchester 13:00 instead of 09:00. Is this related to the engineering issue above?

How much time can a plane realistically make up in two weeks? We're due to be aboard 26/07 and wondering if this will lead to a cascade of delays for a while until it gradually catches up.

Long Haul charters usually have a couple of hours on the ground before their next flight. The flight is only 4 hours late so will hopefully make up time within the next day or 2. Looking at the SFB website it has knocked onto tha GLA-SFB flight which is due to depart at 1430. If the a/c landed in MAN at 1300, it will probably only leave GLA an hour or 2 late.
Things in this industry change so quickly, it would be impossible to predict how your flight will be 2 weeks in advance.

Hi caaardiff
Fantastic, thanks - much appreciated.

Hi caaardiff !

May I just ask, as I am more than a little confused. XLA1131 was due to leave Manchester today at 1330 as XLA1136. Are you saying the aircraft is transferring up to Glasgow to do the 1430 flight today as I thought TCD only flew on a Monday from Glasgow. If so do you know what has happened with todays MAN-SFB flight.The only flight I could see on Sanford website was the Gatwick flight.

Thanks

...there is always extra flights for the Scottish school holidays at this time.

I just came to the conclusion as the SFB website showed GLA "delayed"
GLA wesbite showed XLA1136 "scheduled" with an XLA136F arrival from MAN.

Thankyou caaardiff!

I can only assume that they were picking up passengers at Glasgow.

XL France plane operating Glasgow to Sanford today and tomorrow. Looks like its about 4 hours behind schedule so will not arrive back into GLA until about 13.00 tomorrow.

Scheduled to take off tomorrow at 15.00. What is a realistic turnaround time for an A330-200? Is it likely to be down to a delay of 1-2 hours?

hello guys,

re A330 tech problems;

the crew where able to use the APU, leave the ex pwr disconnected, it was just a niggling problem so it wouldnt of effected any of its immidiate schedule, so thats good.

i would be more worried about the onurair idiotic crew holding on stands at MAN, not letting the XL A330 park, they where getting v.annoyed last week. thats happening so much recently.....

good new about the -900, its on its way back from larnaca either today or tomorrow, the 767-200 shipped the crew down to bring it back home, should hopefully be back in service by the end of the week. turned out to be a quite rare engine problem tho.....

The 767-200 is going back to gatwick for a good o'l rest, and it deserves it, so do the crew, they looked drained today. Kudos to them :ok:.


G-STAW

Already back in service....was in PMI this morning!

Several recent posts have been moved to a more appropriate forum:

http://www.pprune.org/forums/passeng...307-excel.html

XL Airways Long Haul
 

Yesterday XL announced to travel agents that they are withdrawing their Caribbean routes with effect from November. Apparently letters of explanation will follow. Anyone have any info on this? I checked Freedom Flights and the only long haul route they are operating is Sanford.

Cheers

Strange... We as an agent have not heard anything down here in Somerset. We only had the rep in not long ago and everything seemed rosey..I even thought they had ordered A330's to replace the 767 fleet...

Have just checked on XLholidays.com and as you say they do not show anything after November either, but no offical mention of the routes being stopped.

Would be interesting to know what the reason is. Prices were certainly competative...Let us know if you near anymore news

Thanks

mmm does seem strange, unless they're just withdrawing for the winter season. would like to know more...

G-STAW

My colleague was just about to ring XL to check the Caribbean for a client next winter when I told him about the fact they wouldn't be operating.

I only knew about it via the posting here, we are yet to hear from XL besides them confirming via telephone when my disbelieving colleague rang them to be told as of 1st Nov they would not be operating.

There are a few reasons why XL have pulled the routes, one being the B767 (GVKNI) that operates St Kitts etc has come to the end of its lease, and with brand new A332 arriving in time for summer 09 Xl dont want to extend its lease. Another reason is the Caribbean sub XL $xx per pax to ensure a link to the UK is maintained, this agreement has come to an end and with the increase in fuel costs etc has made these flights uneconomical to operate, espeacially as the flights would of had to of been sub-chartered to another airline till A332 arrival. Hopefully XL will return to the Carribean market in the future.

Hopefully ThomsonFly or Monarch will jump in as the winter routes to the Caribbean should be popular. Certainly a few years back Britannia operated to St Lucia, Barbados & Antigua and flights were always pretty much full. I know there's a credit crunch going on, but surely if you holiday in the Caribbean a credit crunch won't affect you (I did say "surely" before anyone jumps down my neck).

Thomsonfly certainly have a couple of 762's that were destined for Silverjet that they could utilse?

Our two 762s are off to do the Haj this year, so im sorry but that will be a no no.

Cant remember where i saw it but there was talk of TCX looking at some of these routes. If they did start them again, that would be full circle after dropping the CKT flights back around 2000/2001.

XL cancellation
 

Just had a phone call today from XL cancelling 23 seats I had booked for this December for my wedding:mad::mad::mad::mad: and all the lady would tell me that they were cancelling all winter flights, Quote " the company is experiencing some restructure" needless to say the future MRS Flaps up no lights, is not happy:{:{:{:{:{
Anybody heard anything???

Zoom could pick up these routes. They already operate to a few Caribbean destinations from Canada. Subject to aircraft being available in their small fleet.

I had a brief search on the XL website. The flight from LGW to Bodrum in Nov 08 returned as unavailable, earliest was in Spring 09. Then I tried a flight from BRS to Sharm el Sheik (sp?) and the exact dates weren't available but there were winter flights on offer.

I'd get onto the website and see what you can do.

XL
 

It has been reported on another site XL will cease operations on all six of it's caribbean routes, ST.Kitts, Antigua, St.Lucia, Barbados, Grenada and Tobago, from LGW for this coming winter due to adverse market conditions.

VICKERS VC10

it is correct!!
 

more links here:


XL to end all Caribbean routes from Gatwick :uhoh:



SKNVibes.com News: XL Airways to End Caribbean Routes

TCX Winter programme is not showing any additional routes than last year... at the moment!!!

I doubt Zoom will operate them they have just had two planes impounded at GLA and in Canada for unpaid fees and could seek Bankruptcy protection and are close to pulling in an administator unless a rescue package can be found becausse of the prices of fuel.

It would appear winter schedule is being stopped from Nov. Roll on summer....

Quote
Have just checked on XLholidays and as you say they do not show anything after November either, but no offical mention of the routes being stopped.

Reply
XL are not Good Communicators, Iv'e heard & Read several incidents where they have said nothing.

Last winter XL cancelled various routes ex-Luton so that they could make more profitable use of the aircraft on lease. Re-started the routes for summer.

When does the winter timetable come into operation ?

Winter start November 1st.

Pure flights
 

Gatwick operator fails with 300 abroad

(29 August 2008)
Gatwick-based seat-only operator Pure Flights has failed with 300 UK holidaymakers abroad.

Pure Flights

An ABTA member, the company offered charter flights from several UK airports to destinations in the eastern Mediterranean, including Turkey and Crete. It sold mainly through travel agents.

The Civil Aviation Authority estimates 1,000 customers have advance bookings and will lose their flights.

However, Pure Flights held an Air Tour Operators' Licence and passengers will be fully reimbursed under the ATOL consumer-protection scheme administered by the CAA.

Those due to travel should submit a claim to the CAA at Air Travel Organisers' Licensing | ATOL. The CAA will handle arrangements to fly those overseas home once they have completed their holiday.

Pure Flights had lots of bookings on XL shorthaul flights, so with the canx of the winter programme and the loss of this company buying seats from XL, does anyone have any more information? Can't be coming at a good time to lose business.:uhoh:

Edited for accuracy of post

Pure Flights used most charter airlines, their demise won't affect any airline business a great deal. Sad to see another company fail though. :sad: