By Olivia Russell
Around 150,000 British holidaymakers anxiously wait for more information as to how they will make it home after tour operator, Thomas Cook collapsed overnight.
All future flights and holiday packages have been cancelled with the provider, leaving tourists stranded abroad.
In a statement, the U.K Civil Aviation Authority said: “Thomas Cook Group, including the U.K tour operator and the airline, has ceased trading with immediate effect.
Over 20,000 jobs are on the line after the company have gone into liquidation, with 9,000 of them being in the U.K.
The airline had been trading forms of travel for 178 years and has been recognised as one of the main suppliers for travel and multiple destination holidays in the aviation industry.
Kate Hill, 25, from Bradford had planned to get married in Paphos, Cyprus in October 2020, for a week long get away with 28 guests.
“We had it all booked through Thomas Cook, and had a holiday rep who arranged the hotel, flights, and planned all the small details. Everything was all paid for, it’s quite fustrating as we will now have the stress of organising the wedding ourselves, including finding a new venue, photographer, and re-ordering our wedding favours as they had the date of when we were due to be wed (October 26th 2020)”.
“For now, we are going to wait till all the chaos dies down, and plan what we are going to do when ourselves and our guests are refunded. It’s those that are now out of employment that you have to empathise with the most”.
Flights at Manchester Airport have been grounded. 5,000 passengers were due to fly out with the airline today but instead were met with disappointment after finding out there were no Thomas Cook flights departing.
One million of their customers will also lose their future bookings. Prices on competitors’ websites such as Booking.com and Jet2 Holidays are expected to rise following the collapse of Thomas Cook Group.
If you have been affected, visit thomascook.caa.co.uk for further information.
Chaos After Travel Firm Thomas Cook Collapses as rescue Talks Fail
