United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Thomas Cook repatriation is nearly a third complete
The repatriation of Thomas Cook customers and staff is now 30% complete, according to the CAA.
In the first three days of the operation – the largest repatriation since the war – the CAA has brought home around 46,000 people and over 150 Thomas Cook crew.
The CAA claims 95% of all Thomas Cook customers have been brought home on the original day of departure of their Thomas Cook flight.
Over 70 flights are scheduled to operate today to bring back a further 16,000 holidaymakers.
The flying programme will continue until Sunday October 6, with more than 1,000 flights planned in total.
Richard Moriarty, chief executive at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: "We have now also contacted over 2,000 hotels to enable ATOL protected holidaymakers staying there to have peace of mind and enjoy the rest of their holiday without losing out financially.
Advice from the CAA
If a hotel demands extra payments from ATOL protected holidaymakers we would encourage them not to pay, and to call our helpline on +44 1753 330 330. We will not rest until we bring everyone home who is due to complete their holiday on or before 6 October."
The Mole says
The CAA has been working hard to bring holidaymakers home but, as you would expect with an operation of this scale, it hasn’t all gone smoothly and, of course, this is what has grabbed the headlines. Incidents of holidaymakers – and even Thomas Cook cabin crew – being ‘held hostage‘ by hotels and of holidaymakers being flown back to the wrong end of the country have been splashed all over the papers and on social media. The CAA PR machine has now gone into overdrive to convince the British public that it’s got things under control. We bet they can’t wait until that last plane on October 6 touches ground.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Tony from Gatto’s Pizza on Columbus’s Unique Pizza Trail
Sophia Hyder Hock on Global Social Inclusion in Tourism
Sustainable Tourism: Don Welsh on Community Values and Global Collaboration
Jane Cunningham: Enhancing European Engagement in Tourism
Kristin Dunne: Navigating Destination Strategy
Revolutionizing Mobile Connectivity: Boris Bijlstra on HUBBY eSIM
Capturing Glasgow’s Vibrancy: An Interview with Susan Deighan, Chief Executive of Glasgow Life
Lebua Hotel & Resorts: Rajan Khurana on Hospitality and Bangkok’s Charms
Sustainable Tourism and Growth: Insights from Chiravadee Khunsub from Tourism Authority of Thailand
Revolutionizing Travel: SmartSIM USA’s Dale Takio Unveils the Power of E Sims
TravelMole Interview with Hishan Singhawansa, Deputy CEO of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, Sri Lanka
Unveiling the Essence of Magari Tours: A Dive into Authentic Italian Experiences
Abercrombie & Kent hails $500 million funding boost
British Airways passengers endure 11-hour 'flight to nowhere'
CLIA: Anti-cruise demos could cause itinerary changes in Europe
Gatwick braces for strike
Co-pilot faints, easyJet flight issues ‘red alert’