Well over half of the 150,000 holidaymakers stranded abroad after the Thomas Cook collapse last Monday had returned to the UK by yesterday (Sunday 29 September) nearly a week after the CAA’s repatriation operation began. Over 350 flights have been involved so far.
Operation Matterhorn continues until 6 October, by when all Thomas Cook clients affected are expected to have been brought back on the days they were originally booked to fly.
CAA chief executive Richard Moriarty said: “Despite the challenges of this unprecedented situation, I am pleased our Operation Matterhorn is on track with around 61,000 people flown home in the first four days – more than 40% of the total.
With repatriation under way, attention last week focused on the background to the collapse, particularly how the directors of Thomas Cook had reportedly paid themselves £20m in the past four years.
In parliament, transport secretary Grant Shapps said all parties had considered options to avoid how the company could avoid being put into administration, adding: “Ultimately, however, it was Thomas Cook and its directors took the decision themselves to place this company into insolvency proceedings.”
A dedicated employment fair for the thousands of North West workers who lost their jobs following the collapse, including supply chain employees, will be held at Manchester Airport this Thursday, 3 October.
The CH-AVIATION database lists the following aircraft chartered by the CAA.
Miami Air International: one B737-800
Eastern Airlines: three B767-300s
euroAtlantic Airways: one B767-300 and one B777-200(ER)
Privilege Style: one B767-300(ER)
Atlas Air: one B747-400
Evelop Airlines: one A330-300
Malaysia Airlines: one A380-800
Titan Airways: one B757-200, one B737-400 (wet-leased from GetJet Airlines), one A320-200 and four A321-200s (all wet-leased from Avion Express), one A320-200 (wet-leased from SundAir), one A321-200 (wet-leased from Olympus Airways), two A321-200s (wet-leased from SmartLynx Airlines); one A340-600 (wet-leased from Maleth-Aero), one A340-300 (wet-leased from Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas)
Hi Fly: one A340-300
Hi Fly Malta: one A340-300
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