Another airline stops flying
By maximax8
@maximax8 (31042)
United Kingdom
September 12, 2008 12:57pm CST
I can't believe that yet another airline has stopped flying. It is XL and it has left upset passengers at airports in my home country and thousands of passengers overseas stranded. It was a large airline and travel company that sent people to countries in Europe and the Caribbean. I was sad when the same thing happened to Zoom Airlines that had flights from the UK to Canada. After that I thought about traveling to Tobago or Grenada on XL. Now they have folded I wonder where my next trip overseas will be. Those airlines that are still flying have fuel surcharges or high costs for carrying baggage in the hold.
Have you heard of any airlines that have stopped flying?
Why are so many airlines ceasing to fly?
Do you think traveling is as enjoyable now as it used to be?
1 person likes this
6 responses
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
13 Sep 08
I booked my holiday to Australia two months ago, and trust the airline is still in business then.
@maximax8 (31042)
• United Kingdom
13 Sep 08
Hello my friend Mipen. Yes, the airline you booked with it still flying so that is great, You must be really looking forward to going to Australia in two months. The first time I went to Australia I traveled on Qantas and earlier on that world trip on Virgin Atlantic. The second time I went to Australia I traveled with Qantas and British Airways earlier on that trip. I hope that the large airlines are secure but sadly the smaller ones are not perhaps. Ones owned by Singapore Airlines for example should stay in business.
@ronaldinu (12422)
• Malta
12 Sep 08
I hear about XL in the news. This is a setback for competition in my opinion. The rise of fuel prices certainly has to do with this airline's decision to stop flying. I suspect that other airlines might increase their air fare in order to thrive in this sector.
@maximax8 (31042)
• United Kingdom
13 Sep 08
Yes, it is sad news and I am glad that you have heard about it. Yes, airlines are increasing their fares as the price of fuel gets higher and costs much more than it used to. I love traveling and will continue to travel but some people are now afraid that flights cost too much so stay at home.
@ronaldinu (12422)
• Malta
15 Sep 08
Even Alitalia the Italian national airlines are bankrupt and have serious financial difficulties. Most probably they will be grounded if the italian parliament dont take the necessary steps in the coming days. It sad when you read that big companies are closing down. They are closing down because they are not making a big profit as they have estimated.
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
15 Sep 08
I think that Al Italia is about to follow suit according to news stories I have been seeing. I guess this is the cost of fuel and the overly competitive airline industry in general that is causing these shut-downs. We lost a major carrier in Australia called TAA many years ago and the sad thing is the number of jobs that go down with it. More and more airlines are looking at mergers to try to combat closures and I just hope that there is still a focus on being competitive rather than a focus on more and more surcharges.
@ellie333 (21016)
•
14 Sep 08
Hi Maxine, I think the fuel prices have a lot to do with it and people are not travelling as much because of the economic climate, all my brothers overtime has been cut and he is trying to save to go to Thailand with his wife in April next year but he says she may have to go home to visit her family on her own as it won't cost a much whereas before he has always managed to go and book without giving it a thought. He also said that when seraching prices he found that they varied from nearly £1000 to £541 per person on exactly the same flight so if airlines are having to cut tickets like this to fill the planes it is no wonder they are in trouble. I feel for the poor people that have been stranded by this latest collaspe and hope they have insurance cover. Ellie :D
@frankiecesca (2489)
•
15 Sep 08
It is definitely because of fuel charges that companies are going bust. There are some strong ones out there that are safe and they have a good position in the market - I think these will do well for a ong time as more customers will book with them because of the safety of it and that will then in turn keep making them enough money to keep going.
