Final Thomas Cook holidaymakers to return home to Britain

cde.news desk 7 October 2019, 05:42 · 1 min read

epa07868297 A Condor Airbus A320 of British travel group Thomas Cook takes off at International Airport in Stuttgart, Germany, 25 September 2019. According to reports on 24 September, German airlines Condor will receive about 380 millions euros bridging loan from the federal government following the bankruptcy of a parent company Thomas Cook. More than 600,000 vacation reservations were canceled on 23 September, after Thomas Cook ceased to operate. According to media reports, the company's collapse will see Britain's largest peace time repatriation take place to get stranded customers home. EPA-EFE/RONALD WITTEK

The final contingent of holidaymakers stranded overseas after the collapse of tour company Thomas Cook last month will return to Britain on flights that departed on Sunday, bringing to an end the country’s biggest ever peacetime repatriation.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) launched “Operation Matterhorn” on Sept. 23 to bring home 150,000 people, just hours after the world’s oldest travel company failed to secure the creditor deal it needed to keep flying.

The CAA said 4,800 people were due to return on 24 flights on Sunday, with the final flight in the operation – a service from Orlando, Florida to Manchester – due to land on Monday morning.

British Transport Minister Grant Shapps has said the government will try to recoup some of the costs of the repatriation, both from third parties such as insurers and from the failed company’s assets.

Via Reuters

Filed under Aviation Tourism UK

Topics thomas cook Tourism UK

Final Thomas Cook holidaymakers to return home to Britain

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