‘We’re just glad to be home’
First repatriation flights land in Manchester after Thomas Cook collapse
THOMAS Cook passengers have spoken of the moment they learned the firm had gone bust - as they waited at the gate at the airport.
The historic travel agent and airline announced in the early hours of yesterday morning it had gone into liquidation after last-ditch rescue talks failed.
That saw the biggest-ever peacetime repatriation begin with the government preparing to charter flights to bring home roughly 150,000 British Thomas Cook passengers who were overseas.
The first of those was a flight from New York’s JFK airport which landed at Manchester Airport’s Terminal One shortly before 4pm yesterday afternoon.
As they landed back in the UK, passengers told of the chaos and confusion when it was announced to them the company had gone to the wall, as they sat waiting to board their flights home.
Suzanne Bushby, 56, who had been away in the Big Apple with her partner Neil, also 56, from Bideford in Devon said they were allowed to check-in two hours before their flight, around 2am UK time, which was around the time the announcement of the company’s collapse was made.
However they had over a fourhour wait whilst a replacement flight, run by Atlas Air, was arranged.
“They must have known. They took our luggage at the checking-in point, nothing was said,” she said.
“Everyone went to the gate, then there was nothing. We were supposed to board at 9am (US time), but there was nothing and it went on. It was the British Consulate, they were the ones who announced it.
“They got on the microphone and told us.
“Everyone knew something was going on as we hadn’t boarded when we should.
“But it was obviously a bit of a shock.
“I had seen a few things on social media on Friday and we knew there were meetings on Sunday, but we thought we might be the last flight.
“So we didn’t really think anymore of it until we got the announcement.
“They said they had a plane for us and they were waiting for a crew. We waited about four hours.
“When the crew arrived everyone cheered and clapped.
“We can’t fault Atlas really they told us what was going on even if the people at Thomas Cook didn’t. We’re just glad to be home.”
Lisa Auld, 51, from Westhoughton in Bolton said: “It’s been worrying really because we weren’t sure how we were going to get home.
“We saw the news yesterday and all day yesterday we were worrying about how we would get home.
“I’ve got another son at home and wanted to get back to him.
“But it’s been smooth since we got to the airport. The British Consulate told us what was going on and they were arranging an alternative flight with Atlas.
“We were probably the lucky ones to get on that flight. We’re just happy to be back and I’m looking forward to getting home and having a drink.”
Mark Waller, 26, a doctor from Sheffield said: “We only found out that Thomas Cook had collapsed when we were about to board.
“A few people walked off and left and we expected to be going to a hotel.
“But then the British Consulate told us they’d found us a flight.”
Mark, who had been to Cleveland for a family wedding, added: “It was all a bit confusing and it took three hours for everyone to get new tickets and have our passports rechecked. We are all tired but thankful we are home.
“We were delayed six hours and it was stressful at times but it could have been much worse.”
Another relief flight organised by
the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) landed at Manchester from the city of Split in Croatia shortly afterwards, and they also complained about a lack of information.
Josh Plant, 24, from Birmingham, had been on a friend’s stag with 17 of his pals on the island of Hvar.
He said: “It’s just been an absolute nightmare from start to finish.
“We’ve been up since 5am this morning as we had to get the boat over. No one seemed to know what was happening at the airport, whether we were flying or not.
“We had about a six-hour wait and all we got on the flight was a bottle of water.
“We’ve been told we won’t get any compensation either. It’s not been great but I suppose we are back.”
Geoff Cliff, who was on the flight with partner Ann, from the Wirral, said: “We’d heard some rumours and it wouldn’t let us check in yesterday which we thought was weird but that does sometime happen. Like a lot of others we’re just glad to be home.”