LONDON, September 14, 2008 (AFP) - A small British tour operator specialising in holidays in Turkey has ceased trading just days after the collapse of another group, XL Leisure, left 85,000 holidaymakers stranded, regulators said Sunday.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said K and S Travel ceased trading late Saturday, leaving 150 passengers in the Turkish beach resort of Bodrum requiring alternative flights home.

The London-based firm, which also trades as Travel Turkey, primarily organises package tours to Turkey with flights chartered through Onur Air.

Its collapse is a further headache for the CAA, which is in the midst of airlifting thousands of people affected by the collapse on Thursday of XL, Britain third largest holiday company.

Thousands of XL customer were still stranded Sunday in Mediterranean resorts and Florida.

XL said it had fallen victim to soaring fuel costs and the credit crunch.

British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh has predicted that another 30 airlines will go bust by the end of the year as fuel costs continue to rise and people book fewer foreign trips as they cut their spending.

Italy's troubled national carrier Alitalia has warned it might have to cancel flights from Monday because it lacks the funds to purchase fuel.