Earlier this month the tour operator, XL Leisure Group, which includes XL Airways, Aspire Holidays, Freedom Flights, The Really Great Holiday Company, Medlife Hotels and Kosmar Villa Holidays, went into administration.

Customers who had booked trips directly through its four tour operator divisions – The Really Great Holiday Company, Kosmar Villa Holidays, Freedom Flights or Aspire Holidays – will be able to claim refunds through the Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing (ATOL). If you booked accommodation or transport with one of these companies through another travel agent, you should contact them to assist you in making a claim.

Unfortunately, customers who booked flights only with XL Airways using either its online booking facility, XL.com, or through its call centre are not covered by ATOL and are therefore ineligible for a refund.

Similarly, GTOs who had booked accommodation only with Medlife Hotels are ineligible for a refund and should contact their travel insurance company.

Customers who are overseas and have booked flights through XL.com or the call centre are not covered by ATOL, but will be flown home by the Civil Aviation Authority, for which there is a charge. In all other circumstances, the cost of repatriation will be covered by the ATOL scheme.

For further information telephone 0800 068 8991