30th April 2007 - A new era in sun holiday travel is heralded by the first flights of XL Airways out of Ireland this week from 3 Irish airports
NEW CHARTER SUN AIRLINE EXPECTED TO CARRY 65,000 PASSENGERS OUT OF IRELAND THIS SUMMER WITH INAUGURAL FLIGHTS DUE TO TAKE OFF FROM THREE IRISH AIRPORTS - DUBLIN, CORK AND IRELAND WEST (KNOCK) FROM NEXT TUESDAY
Over 65,000 Irish holiday-makers are expected to by carried by Ireland's brand new holiday sun charter airline to most of Europe's holiday hot spots this summer. XL.com will operate from three Irish airports namely Dublin from 1st May; Cork from Thursday 3rd May and Ireland West (Knock) from Monday 7th May.
Managing Director of the new sun charter airline and holiday company Bill Smith promises to deliver a brand new affordable but quality service to Irish sun seekers, featuring brand next generation Boeing 737-800 aircraft, and claims that the arrival of XL.com is to herald a new era in the holiday travel market by introducing a minimum of two brand new destinations a year.
The Irish based international tour operator and sun charter airline, XL.com, which is part of a large privately owned aviation company, will use the next generation Boeing 737-800 which carries 189 passengers which will operate on all XL Holidays routes including the Greek Islands of Skiathos & Santorini, Paphos in Cyprus, Lanzarote, Majorca, Portugal, Bulgaria and the Costa Dorada. XL.com will fly from Dublin Airport to all routes; from Cork to Lanzarote and from Ireland West (Knock) to Bulgaria.
The company promises affordable holidays and flights with prices inclusive of all taxes and baggage and claim they will become one of the largest Irish based carriers in the sun charter market out of Ireland this year.
XL.com, are currently offering return air fares (inclusive of taxes and baggage) from €99 return to Faro in Portugal; €129 to Bulgaria ; €199 to Paphos in Cyprus; €149 to Majorca and Salou in Spain; €199 to Lanzarote and €199 to the Greek Islands of Santorini and Skiathos.
And the good news for Irish holiday-makers, according to Carol Anne O Neill, Commercial Director for XL.com in Ireland "Is that passengers will be assigned their own seat at check in and can carry up to 20 kgs of baggage with all taxes included. For golfers travelling to Faro (Portugal) there is NO CHARGE at all for golf baggage. There are 3 ways the public can book - online via XL.com; by calling the XL Call Centre 0818 220 220 or through your local travel agent."
According to Bill Smith, Managing Director XL brokers flights to leading tour operators and travel agents and offers Holidays via their Travel Freedom Brochure available in travel agents as well as online via XL.com.
"The difference with XL Airways is that we are an aviation company and can provide aircraft on demand. We have access up to 41 aircraft for the Irish market and have great plans to grow our business rapidly in Ireland. We aim to roll out our services to European destinations, including short, mid-haul initially and hope to offer the service throughout Ireland via Dublin, Cork and regional airports. Our plan will be to increase the number of routes we operate over the next year and dovetail our business to meet Irish holiday-makers and traveling consumer demands" he said.
Media queries to Mary McGovern, McGovern PR (tel 01 846 4460/1/2 or mobile 086 383 2770)
19th April 2007 - Great News For Irish Holiday-Makers - New Sun Charter Airline Slashes Seat Only Prices
www.XL.com Ireland's brand new holiday airline announce seat only 'sale' to most of Europe's sun destinations from Sunday April 22 2007 from €99 return inclusive of all taxes and baggage.
New Irish based international tour operator and sun charter airline, www.XL.com has slashed prices on return flights to top European Sun Routes from only €99 return inclusive of all taxes, seat allocation and baggage.
www.XL.com, whose inaugural flights out of Ireland start on May 1st 2007 from Dublin, Cork and Ireland West (Knock) are offering return air fares (inclusive of taxes and baggage) from €99 return to Faro in Portugal; €129 to Bulgaria; €199 to Paphos in Cyprus; €149 to Majorca and Salon in Spain; €199 to Lanzarote and €199 to the Greek Islands of Santorini and Skiathos. And the good news for Irish holiday-makers is that you can choose your own seat in advance at no extra charge and carry up to 20kgs of baggage with all taxes included. For golfers traveling to Faro, Portugal, there is NO CHARGE at all for golf baggage.
There are 3 ways the public can book - online via www.XL.com; by calling the XL Holiday Call Centre 0818 220 220 or through your local travel agent.
Commercial Director for XL Leisure Group (Ireland) Carol Anne O Neill commented “These seat only prices are being launched as part of our market entry into the Irish market but they are only the beginning. Our plan is to offer the widest range of superb deals for our holidays and seat onlys. As a destination specialist we will also promise to introduce at least two new holiday destinations a year - this year we are promoting, for the very first time in Ireland, the Greek Island of Skiathos and have reintroduced an old Irish favourite - the Greek Island of Santorini.”
14th February 2007 - XL Airways land their new aircraft at Dublin Airport!
Carol Anne O'Neill , Commercial Director oversees the arrival of the Boeing 737 aircraft in Dublin
XL Holidays and XL Airways – both divisions of the newly formed XL Leisure Group (Ireland) launched their brand new aircraft which arrived from Boeing, in Seattle, USA today, February 14th 2007, at Dublin Airport for exclusive use in the Irish Holiday market for the 2007 Holiday Season.
The newest member of the Boeing 737 family, the XL Airways 737-800 which carries 189 passengers, will operate on all XL Holidays routes which include, Skiathos & Santorini in the Greek Islands, Bulgaria, Paphos in Cyprus, Lanzarote, Majorca, Portugal and the Costa Dorada. XL Airways will fly from Dublin Airport to all routes; from Cork to Lanzarote and from Ireland West (Knock) to Bulgaria.
Commenting today at Dublin Airport today, Carol Anne O Neill, Commercial Director for XL Airways said “The Next-Generation Boeing 737s have a new look and we are delighted to be able to offer this aircraft which will deliver on time performance reliability, along with aesthetically pleasing surroundings and comfort for our passengers.”
The 737 - a short-to-medium-range airplane - is based on a key Boeing philosophy of delivering added value to airlines with reliability, simplicity and reduced operating and maintenance costs. The Next-Generation 737 models build on the strengths that made the 737 the world's most successful commercial airliner, while incorporating improvements and value added technology designed for the 21st century. Advanced technology winglets allow airlines to save on fuel, extend its range, carry more pay load and reduces engine maintenance costs. Blended winglets are wing tip extensions which provide several benefits to airplane operators. The winglet option increases the Next-Generation 737's lead as the newest and most technologically advanced airplane in its class.
XL Leisure Group (Ireland) brokers flights to leading tour operators and travel agents and offers Holidays via their Travel Freedom Brochure available in travel agents as well as online via www.XL.com.
According to Carol Anne O Neill, “apart from this new aircraft we have access to almost 34 aircraft on demand for the Irish Holiday market”.
FOR FURTHER MEDIA QUERIES CONTACT
Mary McGovern, McGovern PR (tel 01 846 4460/1/2 or mobile 086 383 2770)
