XL and Kosmar

One of the largest collapses in the last few decades has left 85,000 people stranded and 200,000 people who have booked their holidays in advance with little or no hope of recovering their money. Whilst exercising a huge Public Relations initiative, TUI and Thomas Cook have seen their share value rise by up to 7%. Feigning concern, whilst utilising the opportunity to charge "ticket tout" prices for flights to the U.K, and capitalising on the misfortune of those affected to frighten people away from independent travel (in cooperation with the outdated ABTA, which is all but controlled by the large tour operators), they are acting in a disgraceful and unethical fashion.

The CAA is doing a sterling job and should be congratulated for their professionalism, which I experienced personally last night. But how did XL get away with selling unbonded flights via their website? Surely the implication of an ATOL protected carrier should have carried warnings regarding the lack of security for those booking direct, rather than via Freedom Flights?

Everyone in the travel industry knew that XL/Kosmar were going under 2 weeks ago. If TUI and Thomas Cook really cared (and my guess is they didn't), why were there no warnings? Simple. Like I said, have a look at their share prices.

Kosmar had only a few properties in Agios Nikolaos. Olympic Holidays might be the next company to go under, and if that happens, we will regret the lack of vision and forward planning at ΔΕΤΑΔΑΝ for many, many years. We have to plan for the future and research and develop new, richer, markets. Something that should have been done five years ago.

I spoke today with a bar owner who always has many returning customers in September. 50% of them have telephoned him to explain that their holiday has been cancelled because their flights were with XL.

It is almost too late now to save our tourism for 2009. When will somebody in authority listen and take some action? Most of the tourist apartments are up for sale, so are the bars and restaurants. Can no-one at the Dimos see what is happening?

Before it really is too late for the town.............