Union slams government following Hays Travel purchase of Thomas Cook retail network
A trade union has called on the government to halt the insolvency process for Thomas Cook Airlines following the sale of Thomas Cook’s retail network to Hays Travel.
Unite said the sale proved that various parts of Thomas Cook’s business were viable.
Assistant general secretary Diana Holland said: "This announcement is clearly good news for the workers concerned and the communities the shops serve.’¨
"However the sale of the shops further throws into serious question the government’s entire strategy with regards to Thomas Cook.
"The sale of the shops clearly demonstrates that various parts of the business were viable.
"The Thomas Cook airline was not only viable but was profit making. Yet the government made no attempt to allow the airline to continue to fly. Instead it was placed into compulsory liquidation with the loss of 4,000 jobs.
"Given the latest developments it is clear that the government’s assessment that providing any financial assistance would risk ‘throwing good money after bad’ has been proven to be entirely false.
"The government should look again at the UK Thomas Cook airline and in doing so call a halt to the insolvency process.
"This would then allow there to be a proper and thorough examination of what action can be taken to find employment opportunities for Thomas Cook’s airline staff."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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 
Global tourism exceeds 1.5 billion travelers announces UN-Tourism
Qatar Airways offers reduced timetable to over 60 destinations
WTTC global tourism reached record economic impact of 11 trillion in 2025
Hands In, UATP join forces for airline multi-card payments
Overseas travelers to the United States declined by 2.5% in 2025