Thomas Cook, the world’s oldest travel agent, has finally collapsed after failing to secure rescue funding. It means travel bookings for its more than 600,000 global vacationers were cancelled early Monday. The UK government said the return of the firm’s 150,000 British customers now abroad would be the largest repatriation in its peacetime history. The process is set to begin later Monday.
Don’t just book it, Thomas Cook it
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said Thomas Cook, a firm that is 178 years old, has ceased trading, its four airlines will be grounded and its 21,000 employees in 16 countries, including 9,000 in the UK, will lose their jobs. The company has wobbled on the edge of insolvency for years but was always able to carry on with its happy advice: “Don’t just book it, Thomas Cook it.”
