derek - what exactly would the government do? Bail out a badly run company? Northern Rock is one thing but airlines?

Paul McCafferty, Belfast,

Well i suppose grounding a load of planes is good for Polar Bears at least. Allegedly.

Jon Cooper, herts, uk,

why should the govt'ment (i.e. taxpayers bail out private companies).
People should take out adequate travel insurance.
Rights equal responsibilty.

TGC, Nottingham, UK

I thought that we had been promised no more Broon and Bust!

J Rodgers, Bristol,

Sorry Willie, oldest trick in the book, frighten customers into booking with you . I just hope coustomers see through your fear marketing. I also hope there were some relatives of the traders who have hiked the price of oil stuck miles away face the same
issues as others left stranded miles away.

Nick , leicester, United Kingdom

This has been entirely predictable. There will be repercussions around the world in the tourist industry & the Eurozone sun and sand holiday destinations are going to suffer badly as families stay at home rather than risk their already dwindling money on a foreign holiday which may never take place

Donna Walker, Effingham, England

This is what Gordon Brown wanted. Who remembers the speach made a few months ago about how air travel should be limited to those that can afford it in order to reduce emmissions from the industry? The government will not help airlines as their demise is seen a step towards their green policies.

Andrew, Huddersfield, England

In the end It comes down the the complete failure of UK PLC, the CEO, G Brown.

Adrian Pringle, Playa Blanca, Spain

Isn't there some law which states that companies must not operate or continue trading shares if their liabilities are greater than their assets?

Len, Perth, Australia

Surely if costs rise, as fuel bills have done in this case, the airline should increase ticket prices to compensate? And as fuel prices affect all airlines, no one particular airline is disadvantaged. The oil prices excuse is sounding a bit hollow to me. Poor business management perhaps?

Charan, London, UK

Less airlines means less gov't revenue, so Darling will come back at the rest of us to make up shortfall. Not only can we not afford foreign travel any longer but we'll be paying more for the non-privelege too! Please switch off the lights before the last of you leaves, would you? Thanks ...

Ian Dickson, Brighton, UK

So they let XL go bust for £130 million pounds worth of debt.
Thats only fifty four million £ more than Brown gave to bangladesh last week.
£ 30 billion earmarked for Northern rock-but no money,will or at least influence to attempt save a good British service.
A very sick country Britain!

antony Graham, southport, England

why are people blaming the government? This is a business problem. Most people want the government to stay out of business when times are good.........you know, nanny state, over regulation, etc etc.

sonny, London,

Derek - why should the government (ie us, as taxpayers) subsidise airlines that are only viable businesses when oil prices are very low?? Departure tax is a perfectly fair way to ensure that travellers and travel companies are paying their fair share for using our airspace. Stop whinging.

S Madsen, London, UK

High oil prices, devalued pound, but look on the bright side, it's a sunny weekend here in Blighty today! Why go abroad anyway?

Paul, Coventry,

Remarkable comments, none appear to address the subject "XL took bookings when a Bank calls in its loan". Its obvious that few here have any comprehension about business, and the true economic conditions.
High demand has high cost, with less liquidity in the global economy something has to give

Mr M Milken, London, UK

One wonders if the likes Christopher Bainbridge gave much thought to the victims of previous companies falling into adminstration? Of course we have tremendous sympathy for the staff of XL, but don't let us believe they should be singled out anymore than the passengers.

rob, Buckingham, UK

Laissez-faire! Labour do NOTHING. Shouldn't have bailed out failed plc Northern Rock. Tax payers money is not for propping up failed companies. Tax / benefit burdens & Labour have ruined the UK. Now ordinary benefit-free hard working people are paying for insulation for those on benefits! UK ruined!

Jon, Preston, UK

" fallen behind in payments of departure tax receipts to the Government."

It is completely unsurprising that tax is strangling these companies. Perhaps Mr. Brown would like to explain to us why he, and Mr. Darling, think that they can continue to apply punitive tax measures to a collapsing economy.

Mr. Matthew Brown, Glasgow, UK

Dave Farmer, Broxbourne, England
The planes get seized by bailiffs from the creditors and the airline can't fly them to bring people back home. There should be a law to stop further bookings once a bank recalls a loan, and there's no way the loan can be repaid in the time available.

Charan, London, UK

Everyone keeps talking about the "poor" passengers. At the end of the day they're all going to get home safely, give or take a few days. As a now redundant cabin crew member of XL Airways I have to say I'm disappointed about the lack of care and coverage concerning us who have now lost everything!!

Christopher Bainbridge, Crawley, UK

If the banks won't lend to each other - which has been the caused of the credit 'crunch' to date, then it is only a matter of time before they won't lend to companies, and companies won't lend to each other (i.e. give credit). It will be cash only payments, mass layoffs, and economic collapse.

John Jenkins, York,

You can blame oil prices and currency changes all day long but purely and simply it is down to poor management - nothing else.

Simon, Tunbridge Wells, UK

What I don't get is why some clause is not imposed that at least enables firms to bring their customers home even though it is facing bankrupcy, rather then having to find their own way back!

Dave Farmer, Broxbourne, England

If you lose your holiday write it off to experience and stay in the UK. It is pointless throwing further money away just to have a stressful holiday worrying if you will be able to return on time.

John Laurence Christopher White, Huntingdon, Cambs

The Government can't win. If they step in it's 'the nanny state' and if they don't they get criticised for that.

Tony, Bristol, England

That's right. The UK goverment are doing nothing.

George Bitar, London,

If there are "30 airlines on the brink of collapse" why not name them? Strikes me as very odd that such a bold prediction can be made - if they have the facts, spill the beans.
Or is this a guess taken out of thin air??

Howard, Gt. Manchester,

Well Derek, looks like they won't be getting much more Departure Tax if any, in the future!

Paddy, Cork, Ireland

Actually XL had been in trouble for years, and it's death will create breathing space and sales capacity and a chance of recovery for the fitter better run airlines. Weak companies have to be allowed to fail, so the better survice, there's no question of Government intervention.

Roarke, Wembley, london

And just what are the UK government doing? Once more-nothing! As long as they get their totally unfair departure tax they are happy.

Derek Adams, Belfast, Northern Ireland