Fankhauser on morale and fair treatment of staff
Thomas Cook UK chief executive Peter Fankhauser claims morale is high within the company following the group’s refinancing announcement earlier today.
He said the management team was "totally motivated" by the refinancing, designed to reduce the group’s debt.
Fankhauser told TravelMole the move was good news for all Cook employees as it safeguards the company.
Thomas Cook shares rose nearly 15% after it announced its refinancing plans.
But the £1.6 billion refinancing will not save the 2,500 jobs and 195 shops that are currently for the chop in the UK.
The 90-day consultation is drawing to a close and staff are due to find out on June 6 if they will be made redundant.
"We have been communicating very openly and honestly with the people who are in the consultation and have been supporting them throughout the process with all kinds of measures, including job fairs and training," said Fankhauser.
"We have been treating them very fairly."
He said summer bookings were going well, with a good mix of short, medium and long haul sales.
"We still have a long way to go but we are confident that we are moving the right way," he said.
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.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026