Britain’s oldest travel company, Thomas Cook, ‘collapsed’ today (23.9.19) after last-minute negotiations failed.
The implosion of the company, which began in 1841, has left 150,000 British holidaymakers stranded abroad.
It has also put at risk 22,000 jobs, including 9,000 in the UK.
https://twitter.com/ThomasCookUK/status/1175953082238275585
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With so many holidaymakers now stranded, the government has begun the process of bringing them back home.
The BBC website calls it ‘the biggest ever peacetime repatriation’.
Dubbed Operation Matterhorn, the repatriation will see 45 jets fly 64 routes today (23.9.19) in a bid to bring back holidaymakers who are now without transport back home.
EasyJet and Virgin have also supplied some airplanes to help.
A spokesperson for Thomas Cook said that the company’s collapse was a ‘matter of profound regret’.
Meanwhile, The Sun reports that the rescue operation could take up to two weeks.
Social media users took to Twitter to voice their frustrations.
Such a sad day today in the travel industry. My thoughts go out to everyone at Thomas Cook💛 #onetravelfamily
— kimbo (@_justkimberleyx) September 23, 2019
https://twitter.com/sophhales_/status/1176017560959102976
Whether you rated Thomas Cook well or not, the facts are the oldest UK travel company is sadly now no more and more importantly thousands of people who are now jobless.
Sad day indeed…#RIPThomasCook— James (@jhobbs87) September 23, 2019
I’m sending this yellow heart to all those staff who are loosing jobs due to the collapse of Thomas Cook. My heart goes out to you all.
5th July 1841 – 23rd September 2019 💔
Please share and spread the love. #ThomasCook
💛 pic.twitter.com/MaV6cKM1Ym— A'L 📍 (@adamlea2) September 23, 2019
One Tweeter said: “Such a sad day for the travel industry. My thoughts go out to everyone at Thomas Cook.”
Others took an angrier approach, railing against both Thomas Cook and the government.
https://twitter.com/salfordpf/status/1176021772942106628
Staff employed by Thomas Cook are threatened with redundancy while British holiday makers risk left being stranded overseas.The government failed to inject the £200m needed to save the company, and now it faces a £600m bill to repatriate holiday makers.Disgraceful!
— Rebecca Long-Bailey (@RLong_Bailey) September 23, 2019
Thomas Cook execs have taken home over £20 million in the last 5 years, setting them up for life. Today 21K people, lots of them likely on near min wage, have woken up with no job a few months before xmas. Capitalism working as designed – to exclusively benefit the fat cats
— b (@redbethmond) September 23, 2019
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Labour MP for Salford, Rebecca Long-Bailey, stormed: “Staff employed by Thomas Cook are threatened with redundancy while British holiday makers risk left being stranded overseas.
“The government failed to inject the £200m needed to save the company, and now it faces a £600m bill to repatriate holiday makers. Disgraceful!”
Anyone who is worried about loved ones or who has questions about their own holiday, is being urged to visit www.thomascook.caa.co.uk/customers/contact-us/.
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