XL Airways France Airline Guide, Routes & History
XL Airways France was a French leisure carrier operating transatlantic charter and scheduled services from Paris to the US, Caribbean, and Indian Ocean destinations before ceasing operations in September 2019.
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XL Airways France — Airline Overview
XL Airways France (formerly Star Airlines, rebranded 2006) was a French leisure and charter airline operating primarily from Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly to long-haul holiday destinations — the US (New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Martinique, Guadeloupe), the Caribbean, Réunion, Mauritius, Maldives, and Indian Ocean destinations. The airline operated a small fleet of Airbus A330 and A380 aircraft, focusing on the French leisure market for transatlantic and Indian Ocean charter and scheduled services. XL Airways France filed for receivership and ceased all operations on September 27, 2019, leaving approximately 3,200 passengers stranded. The airline had been attempting a restructuring following parent company XL Group’s (UK) collapse two years earlier. French carrier Corsair International and Air France filled most of the route gaps following XL’s closure.
✈ Quick Facts
IATA Code
SE
ICAO Code
XLF
Headquarters
Paris, France
Hub Airport(s)
Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) / Paris Orly (ORY)
Cabin Classes
XL Airways France Cabin Classes & Seating
Historical cabin products operated by XL Airways France prior to cessation.
Première (Business)
XL Airways’ business class on A330/A380 aircraft — wide recliner or lie-flat seats (configuration varied by aircraft), priority boarding, enhanced meal service, and lounge access at CDG/ORY. A mid-market product competitive for leisure-market transatlantic business travelers.
XL Club (Premium Economy)
Premium economy product — extra legroom (38″ pitch), wider seats, priority boarding, and an enhanced meal service. One of the stronger value premium economy offerings on French transatlantic leisure routes before the airline’s closure.
Economy
Standard leisure economy with 31–33″ pitch, in-seat entertainment, and complimentary meals on transatlantic services. Generally competitive with mainline carriers for the leisure market.
Historical Routes
XL Airways France Routes — Historical Flight Network
Key routes operated by XL Airways France prior to cessation of operations.
| From | To | Frequency | Flight Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris CDG | New York (JFK) | Multiple weekly (at peak operations) | SE 51/52 |
| Paris CDG | Los Angeles (LAX) | Weekly (at peak) | SE 55/56 |
| Paris CDG | Reunion (RUN) | Multiple weekly | SE Indian Ocean |
| Paris CDG | Martinique (FDF) | Multiple weekly | SE Caribbean |
| Paris ORY | Guadeloupe (PTP) | Multiple weekly | SE Caribbean |
| Paris CDG | Maldives (MLE) | Seasonal | SE Indian Ocean |
Key Information
XL Airways France — What You Need to Know
Important information about XL Airways France and current alternatives for affected passengers.
⚠ XL Airways France Ceased Operations — September 2019
XL Airways France permanently ceased all operations on September 27, 2019 after filing for receivership. The airline no longer operates any flights. Approximately 3,200 passengers were stranded by the closure. Any XL Airways France ticket, voucher, or booking is no longer valid.
French Transatlantic Alternatives — Air France & Corsair
Air France is the primary replacement for XL Airways France’s Paris–US routes (CDG to JFK, LAX, SFO, and numerous US cities). Corsair International (a French leisure airline owned by TUI Group) serves Martinique (FDF), Guadeloupe (PTP), Réunion (RUN), and Mauritius from Paris, replacing XL’s Indian Ocean and Caribbean leisure routes.
Refunds for XL Airways France Passengers
Passengers who held XL Airways France tickets at the time of the September 2019 closure were advised to file chargebacks with their credit card issuer or claim through travel insurance. The French DGAC (Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile) published guidance for affected passengers. The time limit for most chargeback claims has now passed.
Paris–US Transatlantic — Who Flies Now
Paris Charles de Gaulle is served transatlantically by Air France (the primary full-service option, with extensive US network), French Bee (a French ULC subsidiary of Air Austral operating CDG to LAX, SFO, Newark, and Papeete at competitive prices), and La Compagnie (all-business-class Paris–New York, a niche premium-only carrier).
Frequently Asked Questions
No — XL Airways France permanently ceased all operations on September 27, 2019 after filing for court-supervised receivership. The airline no longer operates any flights.
XL Airways France filed for receivership in September 2019 following financial difficulties exacerbated by the earlier collapse of its parent, the UK's XL Group, in 2018. The airline had been operating under court supervision for several months before the final cessation. Rising fuel costs, intense low-cost competition, and a challenging charter market contributed to the failure.
XL Airways France tickets are no longer valid. Passengers who held tickets at the September 2019 closure were advised to contact their credit card issuer for a chargeback claim or claim through travel insurance. French passengers also had access to the APST (Association Professionnelle de Solidarité du Tourisme) guarantee fund for package holiday refunds. Most claims deadlines have now passed.
Air France is the primary carrier on Paris–New York, Paris–Los Angeles, and Paris–San Francisco routes previously served by XL Airways France. French Bee (Air Austral subsidiary) offers low-cost alternatives from CDG to Newark, LAX, and SFO. La Compagnie serves Paris–New York in an all-business-class format.
Yes — XL Airways France operated scheduled and charter flights from JFK (New York) and LAX (Los Angeles) to Paris CDG, primarily targeting French tourists traveling to the US and American tourists flying to France. The service was particularly popular for French holidaymakers given the competitive leisure pricing.
XL Airways France operated Airbus A330-200 and A330-300 aircraft on most routes, with an Airbus A380 used on some high-density routes during peak season. The airline also operated a small number of Boeing 737s on shorter European routes at various points in its history.
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