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.
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 
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
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