Excel Airways was a British leisure and charter airline that operated from the United Kingdom, primarily offering package holiday flights to Mediterranean, Caribbean, and other popular tourist destinations. The airline was a major player in the UK charter market during its operational years, carrying millions of passengers annually. Founded in 1994 as Sabre Airways, the airline rebranded as Excel Airways in 2003 following a merger and restructuring. It operated as part of the travel group that included tour operators, positioning itself as an integrated leisure travel provider. Excel Airways ceased operations in September 2008 when its parent company, the XL Leisure Group, collapsed into administration amid the global financial crisis and rising fuel costs. The failure left thousands of holidaymakers stranded abroad and was one of the largest UK travel industry failures of that period.