XL Airways

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XL Airways
IATA
JN		 ICAO
XLA		 Callsign
EXPO
Founded 1994 as Sabre Airways
Hubs London Gatwick Airport
Manchester Airport
Glasgow International Airport
Charles de Gaulle International Airport
Focus cities Newcastle Airport
Bristol International Airport
East Midlands Airport
Birmingham International Airport
Cardiff International Airport
Humberside Airport
London Stansted Airport
Dublin Airport
Belfast International Airport
Fleet size 24
Destinations Varies
Parent company XL Leisure Group
Headquarters Crawley, England, UK
Key people DFO James Scott
CEO Phil Wyatt
Chairman Peter Owen
Website: http://www.xl.com
Air Malta Airbus A320-200, operated on behalf of XL
Air Malta Airbus A320-200, operated on behalf of XL
Boeing 737-400 (in old livery) takes off
Boeing 737-400 (in old livery) takes off
Boeing 737-800 in current livery
Boeing 737-800 in current livery


XL Airways is an English charter airline with headquarters in Crawley, Sussex. It is part of the XL Leisure Group. XL Airways is a trading name for XL Airways UK Limited. The airline provides short-haul and long-haul services to European and Middle Eastern leisure destinations from its three bases of London Gatwick, Manchester and Glasgow. The airline also operates services from Newcastle, Bristol, East Midlands, Birmingham, Cardiff, Humberside, London Stansted and Belfast International.[citation needed]

Two other airlines within the group use the XL Airways branding; XL Airways France and XL Airways Germany.

XL Airways UK Limited holds a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority Type A Operating Licence, which permits it to carry passengers, cargo and mail on aircraft with 20 or more seats.[1]

From the 2007-2008 season, XL Airways will be the new sponsors of West Ham United F.C.[2]

Contents

The airline was established in 1994 as Sabre Airways and started operations on 17 December 1994. The name Excel was adopted following the acquisition in November 2000 of a 67% stake by Libra Holidays Group, and subsequently increased. In March 2004 Avion Group completed the purchase of 40.5% of Excel Airways Group.

In January 2004 Excel Airways appointed Web Liquid a Digital Marketing and Consulting agency to spear head its online strategy as well as direct to consumer communications.

In December 2004 Excel Airways was presented with the award of 'Worlds Leading Charter Airline' for 2004 at the World Travel Awards in Barbados.

In January 2005, Excel Airways Group launched XL.com. This was accompanied by the rebranding of the aircraft.

In October 2005, Excel Airways was awarded 'Best Charter Airline' by readers of the UK newspaper the Daily Telegraph. The company also received 'World's Leading Charter Airline' for the second year running.

In November 2005 a modified livery was introduced, larger Excel Airways titles, an emblem on the engines and XL.com on the tail.

In March 2006 Excel Airways signed an agreement with GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS) for the lease of two Next-Generation Boeing 737-900ER (Extended Range) aircraft being marketed by Boeing in 2007 and two Boeing 737-800s with a delivery in the second quarter in 2007. In addition four Boeing 737-800s will be added to the fleet in the first six months of 2007, two from ILFC (International Lease Finance Corporation) and two from RBS Aviation Capital (part of Royal Bank of Scotland). All the aircraft are leased for eight years as a part of the Group’s aircraft fleet renewal plan.

In April 2006 Excel secured 100% of the share capital of Kosmar Villa Holidays Plc (‘Kosmar’), with effect from 2 May 2006.

In May 2006 Excel Airways acquired 3 Boeing 747-300 with the merger of sister company Air Atlanta Europe.

On 30 October 2006, members of management bought-out XL Leisure Group from Avion Group. XL Leisure Group consists of Excel Airways Group in the UK, Star Airlines France and Star Europe in Germany.

In November 2006 Excel Airways was renamed as XL Airways and updated its website as XL.com as part of a major brand relaunch. Sister airlines in Germany and France were also rebranded.

In October, 2007 it was revealed that XL, expressing "sympathy for all dispossessed persons in the world," would no longer transport asylum-seekers out of the UK.[1]


  • Fleet Size: 21

Since May 2007 XL Airways has operated flights from Dublin, Cork and Knock which are marketed through XL Holidays as XL Airways Ireland. The inaugural flight operated from Dublin to Palma on 1 May. Flights are offered to the following destinations: [2].

From Dublin:

From Cork:

From Knock:

  • 16 July 2003 - Excel Airways Boeing 737-800 (G-XLAG) with 197 passengers took off from Manchester Airport while vehicles were working near the end of the runway. Despite the crew being told the runway was operating at reduced length, they took off over the vehicles, missing them by 56 ft (17 m), according to the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch. [3]
  • 4 November 2004 - The left wing of an Excel Airways Boeing 767-200 (G-SATR) struck the right horizontal stabiliser of a stationary bmibaby Boeing 737-300 while both aircraft were awaiting departure from Manchester Airport. The investigation concluded that the Excel 767 Captain, who bore primary responsibility for collision avoidance, misjudged the available separation due to a combination of physiological limitations, distractions and a false assumption regarding his Air Traffic Control clearance. [4]

The XL Airways UK fleet includes the following aircraft (as of June 2007) [5]:

Aircraft Number in Fleet Notes
Boeing 737-800 12 Registered G-OXLA/C, G-XLAA/B/C/D/G/I/J/K/N/O
Boeing 767-200ER 2 Registered G-BNYS, G-BOPB
Boeing 767-300ER 2 Registered G-VKNG, G-VKNI

Other aircraft:

  • 2 Boeing 737-800 (two Canadian-registered aircraft (from Sunwing) are wet-leased until 30 November 2007[6])

Aircraft Orders:

  1. ^ Milmo, Cahal "Airlines face 'direct action' threat in deportations row" The Independent, October 9, 2007
  2. ^ XL.com 2 December 2007
  3. ^ Report No: 3/2006. Report on the serious incident to Boeing 737-86N, G-XLAG, at Manchester Airport on 16 July 2003. UK AAIB. Retrieved on 2007-06-03.
  4. ^ Boeing 767-204, G-SATR and Boeing 737-37Q, G-ODSK. UK AAIB. Retrieved on 2007-06-03.
  5. ^ G-INFO Aircraft Register. CAA. Retrieved on 2007-06-03.
  6. ^ Cite error 8; No text given.

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