The world’s oldest travel company has collapsed. In an announcement made at 2am Thomas Cook has confirmed that all the companies in its group have ceased trading, including Thomas Cook Airlines.
21,000 staff are affected worldwide and 150,000 travellers are stranded abroad.
As a result, we are sorry to inform you that all holidays and flights provided by these companies have been cancelled and are no longer operating. All Thomas Cook’s retail shops have also closed.
The Government and the Civil Aviation Authority are now working together to do everything we can to support passengers due to fly back to the UK with Thomas Cook between 23 September 2019 and 6 October 2019. Depending on your location, this will be either on CAA-operated flights or by using existing flights with other airlines.
If you are already abroad you will find all the information you need about your arrangements to get home on this website.
If you are due to depart from a UK airport with Thomas Cook Airlines, please do not travel to your UK airport as your flight will not be operating and you will not be able to travel.
This repatriation is hugely complex and we are working around the clock to support passengers.
Customers already abroad
If you are currently abroad and your flight was with Thomas Cook we are providing new flights to return you to the UK. These repatriation flights will only be operating for the next two weeks (until 6 October 2019). After this date you will have to make your own travel arrangements. From a small number of locations, passengers will have to book their own return flights.
For further advice and details of your return journey please read I am currently abroad. Please note that repatriation flights are only available for passengers whose journey originated in the UK.
If you are currently abroad and due to return to the UK after 6 October 2019, please read the additional information section.
If you are ATOL-protected and are having difficulties with your hotel, please read managing difficulties with accommodation.
PLEASE NOTE: Some of Thomas Cook’s package holiday bookings include flights with airlines unrelated to the Thomas Cook Group. If your return flight is not with Thomas Cook’s airline, it will still be valid. However other elements of the package, such as accommodation and transfers will be affected.
Customers yet to travel out of the UK
We are sorry to inform you that all future holidays and flights booked with Thomas Cook are cancelled as of 23 September 2019.
If you are booked on a Thomas Cook Airlines flight, please do not go to your UK airport, as your flight will not be operating. The Civil Aviation Authority’s repatriation programme will not include any outbound flights from the UK.
If you choose to book a new flight with another airline out of the UK, you will not be eligible for a repatriation flight.
PLEASE NOTE: Some of Thomas Cook’s package holiday bookings include flights with airlines unrelated to the Thomas Cook Group. If your return flight is not with Thomas Cook’s airline it may still be valid. However other elements of the package, such as accommodation and transfers might be affected.
Further information is available at I have a future booking and have not travelled yet.
Civil Aviation Authority
Adam French, Which? Consumer Rights Expert, said: “Hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers affected by the collapse of Thomas Cook will be incredibly worried, especially if they are currently still on holiday and stranded abroad. The good news is that ATOL protection will mean they will be flown back home free of charge.
“Customers who have already paid and booked for an upcoming holiday with the collapsed travel operator should also be entitled to a refund as part of the scheme.
“However, if you didn’t book as part of a package you might not be ATOL protected but you may be able to claim the cost back through your travel insurance or credit card issuer – it will depend on your circumstances.
“You can visit which.co.uk for more advice on your rights.”
GOVERNMENT INFORMATION
On 23 September 2019, winding up orders were made against Thomas Cook Group plc and associated companies. The court appointed the Official Receiver as the Liquidator.
The court has appointed Special Managers to assist the Official Receiver with the liquidation. Insolvency Practitioners from AlixPartners have been appointed as Special Managers over the airline and tour operator companies. Insolvency Practitioners from KPMG LLP have been appointed as Special Managers to the Group’s retail division and to its aircraft maintenance companies.
Information for customers
All Thomas Cook bookings, including flights and holidays, have now been cancelled. All of Thomas Cook’s retail shops will close with immediate effect.
The Government is working with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to help passengers return to the UK. Depending on your location, this will be either on CAA-operated flights or by using existing flights with other airlines. This will apply to both ATOL protected passengers and those who are not protected.
If you are already abroad you will find all the information you need about your arrangements to return to the UK on the CAA website.
If you are due to depart from a UK airport with Thomas Cook Airlines, please do not travel to your UK airport as your flight will not be operating and you will not be able to travel.
Further information is available on the CAA’s website.
Information for employees
If you have been told that you are being made redundant, the information in this section provides advice about claiming money you’re owed and where you can seek support.
Who is eligible?
You can apply to the Insolvency Service for redundancy and other payments if:
- you worked for these companies under an employment contract
- you live in England, Scotland or Wales
You can’t apply to the Insolvency Service if you live in Northern Ireland. Find out about your rights in Northern Ireland if your employer is insolvent.
If you live outside of England, Scotland and Wales, and also spent the majority of your employment outside of England, Scotland, and Wales, you will need to apply to the redundancy scheme in that jurisdiction.
How to apply
The Special Managers will give you details about how to apply and will also give you a case reference number (for example CN12345678).
Once you have this information you can apply online.
Paying your claim
On average the Insolvency Service’s redundancy payments service pays redundancy and related claims within 14 days of receipt of information.
Special arrangements are being put in place to pay sooner if practicable to do so.
Find more information about what we can pay.
Factsheet: finding a new job, managing your finances and benefits available to you.
Employees of Thomas Cook’s airline and tour operator companies should approach AlixPartners for further information about how to make a claim via their dedicated website.
Employees of Thomas Cook’s retail and aircraft maintenance companies should approach KPMG for further information about how to make a claim via their dedicated website or TCemployees@kpmg.co.uk.
Please don’t contact us about how to claim or to check the status of your application. This will help us deal with everyone’s application as quickly as possible.
Information for creditors
You will need to register as a creditor in the liquidation if:
- you haven’t been paid for goods or services you’ve supplied to the Thomas Cook companies in liquidation
- you have paid the Thomas Cook companies in liquidation for goods or services that you haven’t received
- you are a worker or self-employed contractor who provided services to any of the Thomas Cook companies in liquidation
To register as a creditor you will need to complete a Proof of Debt form which you should then email to the Special Managers.
Creditors of Thomas Cook’s airline and tour operator companies will need to complete a Proof of Debt form and submit to AlixPartners. Further information can be found on AlixPartners’ dedicated website.
Creditors of Thomas Cook’s retail and aircraft maintenance companies will need to complete a Proof of Debt form and submit to KPMG. Further information be found on KPMG’s dedicated website.
Once you have registered and the Special Manager receives your Proof of Debt form they will add you to the list of creditors and include you on future correspondence about the case.
Information for shareholders
Thomas Cook Group plc’s listing with the London Stock Exchange has been suspended. At the present time Thomas Cook shares cannot be traded on the exchange.
Unfortunately, as a result of the liquidation appointments, there is no prospect of a return to Thomas Cook’s shareholders.
Shareholders should be aware of any approaches in the form of third parties offering to dispose of their shares, in exchange for the up-front payment of fees. The FCA website has information about how to avoid and report share scams.
Companies in liquidation and Special Manager appointments
On 23 September 2019 Simon Appell, Alastair Beveridge, Dan Imison and Ben Browne of AlixPartners were appointed Special Managers to assist the Official Receiver carry out his duties in the following airline and tour operator companies in liquidation:
Thomas Cook Airlines Limited
Thomas Cook Group Treasury Limited
Thomas Cook Tour Operations Limited
Thomas Cook Airlines Treasury plc
Thomas Cook In Destination Management Limited
Thomas Cook Group Tour Operations Limited
Thomas Cook Group plc
Thomas Cook Money Limited
Thomas Cook Services Limited
My Travel Group Limited
Thomas Cook Investments (2) Limited
Thomas Cook Continental Holdings Limited
Blue Sea Overseas Investments Limited
Thomas Cook Group UK Limited
Thomas Cook Finance 2 Plc
Thomas Cook Group Airlines Limited
Thomas Cook West Investments Limited
Thomas Cook UK Limited
Thomas Cook UK Travel Limited
Further information is available on AlixPartners dedicated website.
On 23 September 2019 Blair Nimmo, Jim Tucker, David Pike, Mike Pink and Ben Leith of KPMG were appointed Special Managers to assist the Official Receiver carry out his duties in the following retail and aircraft maintenance companies in liquidation:
Thomas Cook Aircraft Engineering Limited
Thomas Cook Retail Limited
TCCT Retail Limited
The Freedom Travel Group Limited
Future Travel Limited
Travel and Financial Services Limited
Retail Travel Limited
Further information is available on KMPG dedicated website.
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