Thomas Cook collapse - 'limited effect'

UK government issues advice for customers as ‘hugely complex’ repatriation is organised

THE COLLAPSE of Thomas Cook ‘will not have a profound effect’ on tourism destinations in the Valencia region, according to regional secretary for tourism, Francesc Colomer.

He noted that the sector has ‘diversified’ and the number of package holidays from this operator to the Valencia region had decreased considerably in recent years.

“We have reached the highest levels of demand from the British market without Thomas Cook,” he explained.

He said the only flight they operated this year was to Alicante-Elche from Manchester.

Other regions in Spain would be worse hit, he added, with tourism industry experts noting that Thomas Cook brought 3,619,677 holidaymakers to Spain last year - see page 19..

However, only 6,387 tourists were expected from now until March, 2020 in the Valencia region with Thomas Cook, according to Sr Colomer.

However, his department has contacted ‘all the entities which implicated’, particularly on the Costa Blanca and Benidorm. They are trying to ensure that all British tourists in the region travelling with Thomas Cook can be attended to.

The end of an era

Winding up orders were made against Thomas Cook Group plc and associated companies on Monday (September 23).

The UK’s Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy stated in a press release published that morning that ‘all Thomas Cook bookings, including flights and holidays, have now been cancelled’. An estimated 150,000 Britons are affected by the collapse.

“The government is working with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to help passengers return to the UK,” they stated. “If you are already abroad you will find all the information you need about your arrangements 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.”

The CAA noted that they and the government ‘are now working together to do everything we can to support passengers due to fly back to the UK’.

“This repatriation is hugely complex and we are working around the clock to support passengers,” explained a spokesman. “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 October 6)’ – and ‘after this date you will have to make your own travel arrangements’.

Repatriation flights are only available for passengers whose journey originated in the UK.

“Where possible we are aiming for these to be as close as possible to your original return time and date,” explained the CAA.

Customers are asked to check the ‘new flight back to the UK pages’ on their website to find their new flight details.

“In a small number of cases, passengers may be asked to book your own return flights on existing flights with other airlines and claim the cost of this back,” notes the CAA.

The CAA also told customers that ‘if your return flight is not with Thomas Cook’s airline, it will still be valid’ but ‘other elements of the package, such as accommodation and transfers will be affected’.

The British Embassy in Madrid said some tourists on Thomas Cook package holidays have been asked to pay for their hotels. This should not be happening, they noted.

British Ambassador Hugh Elliott said: “I hope that confirmation that the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority has already sent a guarantee of payment to every hotel with Thomas Cook package holiday customers, assures holiday makers that there should not be any surprise bills.”

He added: “If you are on an ATOL-protected package holiday and are experiencing difficulties from the hotel or they are requesting payment from you, my advice is that you call the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority on +44 1753 330 330 as soon as possible.

“It is also important not to make a payment to your hotel unless you are instructed to do so by the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s team”.

Customers yet to travel out of the UK were told on Monday that ‘all future holidays and flights booked with Thomas Cook are cancelled as of September 23’.

The CAA website can be found at www.caa.co.uk/home/