Thomas Cook operated hotels, resorts, and airlines for 19 million people a year in 16 countries. Employing 21,000, it currently has 600,000 people abroad, forcing governments and insurance companies to coordinate a huge rescue operation. Thomas Cook bosses received £20million in bonuses as their company was going under.
“ThomasCook guests that are in Turkey for holiday, if you are asked to pay extra money by your hotels, don’t pay anything, Turkish ministers have announced they won’t be charged extra, anyone charging will be prosecuted. Hope u all return home safe.” This is a tweet by a travel agent.
The situation in the U.K. travel and tourism world is in chaos. The British government is working on the largest rescue mission the kingdom has ever seen. It may cost the British Taxpayers at least a hundred million Pounds. The civil aviation authority in Britain says most passengers in the next two weeks will be booked on flights close to the original itinerary.
The situation in Germany is not too much better, but due to Government involvement the situation in Germany is more under control and Condor Airlines is still flying.
105 planes are grounded. Thomas Cook has passengers waiting in 50 destinations and 18 countries. 9000 jobs in the U.K. and more than 20,000 jobs outside Britain are lost.
The last Thomas Cook flight landed in Manchester this morning bound from Orlando, Florida.
WTTC tweeted good wishes, the African Tourism Board is encouraging member companies to do what they can to assist travelers.
Experts tell travelers not to pay for hotels they used, pay tour operators unless they get threatened. “Safety comes first.” Anyone who paid with a credit card should get their money back. This is not so much the case for those that paid by check, cash or debit card.
Experts urge travelers to go and enjoy the beach – they will be contacted. Insurances usually do not pay cost due to bankruptcies.
No one is yet talking much about those that already paid for future holidays.
