The vast majority of holidaymakers hit by the collapse of Britain's third largest tour operator will be flown back on their original departure date, the aviation regulator has said.
Some 85,000 people were left stranded when XL Leisure Group went into administration early on Friday morning, grounding its fleet of planes and plunging the travel industry into turmoil.
But the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) - the body tasked with repatriating package tour customers - confirmed that passengers would be able to get replacement flights on their original return dates or in the worst cases on the following day.
The airlift was on Friday described as the "the most challenging ever undertaken" by XL's chief executive Peter Wyatt and is expected to cost some £20 million.
Overseas package tour passengers are covered under the Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (Atol) scheme.
Specially chartered flights have been brought in, while spare seats on already scheduled flights are being used to bring them back to the UK.
Alongside the 75,000 customers covered by Atol, room will also be available for the 10,000 people who booked XL flights independently - although they will have to pay for the privilege. All but a few customers were being found replacement flights on the day they intended to travel.
A spokesman for the CAA said: "Some people in Orlando had to stay an extra night, but generally people are flying back on the same day." But thousands of outbound XL customers will have to make alternative plans on their own.
Some 200,000 people in total have seen future holiday plans go up in smoke as a result of the tour operator's collapse, although most will be compensated.
XL went into administration shortly before 3am on Friday after failing to secure a rescue package. In an emotional statement, Mr Wyatt said he was "devastated" at the company's collapse and apologised to his customers and employees.
