Thousands stranded in XL collapse

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XL Leisure Group went into administration in the early hours of Friday, leaving around 85,000 people marooned overseas and grounding holiday-bound flights in the UK.

As the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) attempted to sort out the mess and repatriate those affected, XL's chief executive blamed himself, record oil prices and a worsening economy for the firm's woes.

The tour operator announced that it had called in the administrators shortly before 3am despite being open for bookings only hours earlier.

The move threw the future travel plans of an estimated 200,000 people into jeopardy. But it also left around 50,000 XL package holidaymakers and an additional 10,000 XL Airline passengers overseas without means of returning to the UK.

Grounded flights also hit some 25,000 people who had booked with other tour operators but were due to use XL flights, according to CAA figures.

In an emotional statement Phil Wyatt, chief executive of XL Leisure Group, said he was "devastated" at the company's collapse and apologised to his customers and employees.

Speaking at a press conference at the Hilton Hotel at Gatwick Airport, XL's chief executive said: "Ultimately I blame myself, I'm the CEO, I take legal responsibility for it."

But he added that the withdrawal of support from lenders had left them with no option than to call in administrators. He expressed his "gratitude" to XL's 1,700 staff, who will now face an uncertain future.

XL's administrators said those people who booked holidays by credit card or used a tour operator affiliated to the Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (Atol) scheme should get their money back.