Excel Airways and the Excel Airways Group are no longer. The 5th largest holiday company in the UK is now to be known as the XL Leisure Group. On the air travel side of the business the operation is to be called XL Airways formed by the amalgamation of Excel Airways in the UK plus Star Airlines of France and Star Europe of Germany, the group”s two continental operations.
The new XL logo will be used on all XL Airways 34 aircraft. In addition the onboard magazine and interior elements of the fleet have been completely redesigned to reflect the new brand values, as have the crew uniforms. These changes are being phased in and will be completed within the UK fleet by May 2007. XL Airways plans delivery of a pair of Boeing 737-900 in 2008, becoming the first UK operator of the type.
The group”s tour operations include XL.com, TravelCity Direct, Kosmar, Aspire Holidays, Excel Holidays, Freedom Flights, Vancances Heliades and CrystalTO.