Thomas Cook can come back from the ashes - union boss
Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent
BBCCopyright: BBC
The boss of the TSSA union - the main union representing Thomas Cook workers - has questioned the government's decision to refuse to bailout the company.
“I think people will question the morality of a government that is prepared to see 9,000 jobs go and is prepared to disrupt the holidays of 150,000 people when saving the company would have been cheaper than paying the repatriation costs," Manuel Cortes tells the BBC.
He says Peterborough, where the company's headquarters is based, “must be in mourning”.
The union will be pushing the government to see if Thomas Cook can be resurrected, he adds.
“The planes are all at the airport, they’ve got a tour operator that is viable, they've got shops that sell holidays, they've got an internet operation that does likewise.
"There is no reason why the company can’t come back from the ashes," he says.
Peterborough United offer free match tickets to Thomas Cook employees
Peterborough United is offering Thomas Cook employees free tickets to their match against AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.
Thomas Cook's headquarters have been based in the city since 1977 and the company provided sponsorship to the football team in the 1990s.
Thomas Cook passenger Mary Nicholls, (right) pictured with her grandson, Matt Walker, (left) fears running out of her heart condition medication if the family are stranded in Cyprus.Image caption: Thomas Cook passenger Mary Nicholls, (right) pictured with her grandson, Matt Walker, (left) fears running out of her heart condition medication if the family are stranded in Cyprus.
Thomas Cook customers have told the BBC of their fears over unpaid hotel bills, cancelled trips and being stranded abroad.
For one British family on holiday in Cyprus, the firm's failure means a wedding marred by uncertainty, and worries over vital medication.
Grandmother Mary Nichols, 87, has a heart condition and only enough medication to last until Wednesday - the day her prescription runs out.
Grandson Matt Walker, 23, paid Thomas Cook about £1,100 by debit card for flights and hotel accommodation for Ms Nichols and his mother Sarah, 53, so they could attend his brother's wedding in Paphos on Tuesday.
Cooks Club Adakoy in Marmaris, TurkeyImage caption: Cooks Club Adakoy in Marmaris, Turkey
Despite his holiday confusion Jonathan Boyce has nothing but praise for the Thomas Cook reps at the Cooks Club Adakoy
in Marmaris in Turkey.
"The two reps have been here since this morning and have been fantastic organising
people, transport and reassuring everyone that all is well. All while fighting
back the tears of knowing they haven’t a job to go home to," Jonathan tells Business Live.
"Despite not knowing their future they’ve done a
fantastic job and with all the negative press, the ones remaining and trying to
sort matters deserve a round of applause."
We couldn't agree more, Jonathan.
'We've been treated extremely poorly'
BBCCopyright: BBC
Friends Madison Millar and Katie O'Mara, both 22 years old, were booked on a Thomas Cook flight to Malta from Gatwick Airport due to leave today.
Ms Millar, who is a student in Brighton, was
unaware that Thomas Cook had ceased functioning and feels they have been treated "extremely poorly" by the company.
"I checked in yesterday, I
didn't even get an email to say our flight was cancelled," she tells the BBC.
"It looks like there
are no other flights going to Malta today. So it's a shame."
Football fans hit by holiday firm collapse
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Chelsea celebrate beating Arsenal in the Europa Cup FinalImage caption: Chelsea celebrate beating Arsenal in the Europa Cup Final
Sport fans are awaiting news on whether tickets for upcoming European football away games and NFL Football matches in London will be valid following the collapse of Thomas Cook.
A number of Premier League clubs as well as the NFL used Thomas Cook Sport for match packages.
Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs, Arsenal and Manchester City have all sold hospitality for games.
Meanwhile the NFL has booked packages through Thomas Cook for games in London involving Chicago Bears, Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cincinnati Bengals, LA Rams, Houston Texans and and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Wales prepares to play Georgia in the Rugby World Cup - just don't tell Richard Llewellyn the scoreImage caption: Wales prepares to play Georgia in the Rugby World Cup - just don't tell Richard Llewellyn the score
Richard Llewellyn is in Zakynthos and has emailed Business Live to say the repatriation operation there of Thomas Cook customers is running pretty smoothly.
He writes: "Waiting
at Zakynthos airport for our flight back to Cardiff. Great organisation here,
there are lots of Atol/British government officials here giving advice to
passengers making it a lot less stressful!
"Our only stress now is trying to
avoid the Wales rugby score to watch it tonight."
'I'm trying to get to Jamaica because my uncle is ill'
BBC Radio 5 Live
BBCCopyright: BBC
Latisha, Kennedy,
Stacey and Helena are at Manchester Airport, trying to get to Jamaica.
Latisha told BBC Radio 5 Live: "We're going home - my uncle is ill so we were going to see him before the worst happened.
"We called Thomas Cook on Saturday to see if everything was going smoothly - they said yes it was perfect - we left Wolverhampton and came to Manchester but as we came through the door we heard the announcement.
"We are here trying to see if we can get on the next flight today. We're not getting any help, it's a great disappointment."
Virgin Trains offer ticket flexibility for Thomas Cook customers
Thomas Cook has collapsed and now the CAA has launched a massive repatriation programme to bring holidaymakers home.
800,000 future Thomas Cook bookings are cancelled
Video content
Video caption: Thomas Cook passengers face a long journey homeThomas Cook passengers face a long journey home
Thomas Cook had 800,000 future bookings which have now been cancelled after the firm went into liquidation in the early hours of this morning.
The repatriation of 155,000 Brits abroad by the CAA has begun.
NFL looking into Thomas Cook collapse for customers
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
There are a number of people who have said on social media that
they have booked travel and tickets for the forthcoming NFL games through
Thomas Cook.
The NFL said: "We are
aware of the concerns of NFL fans who have purchased tickets for this season’s
London games via Thomas Cook. We are investigating the situation in order to be
able to advise on a course of action and will have further information as soon
as possible.”
Tui shares up 7.5% on Thomas Cook news
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Shares in Thomas Cook rival Tui have soared around 7.5% this morning, to be one of the FTSE 100's few bright points.
Tui shares have climbed 62.40 to 903.00.
At mid-day the blue chip index was down 35.62, or 0.49%, at 7,308.77.
Man named Thomas Cook has wedding plans thrown into doubt
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Thomas Cook is due to get married in RhodesImage caption: Thomas Cook is due to get married in Rhodes
A man has had his wedding holiday thrown into doubt after the demise of the travel firm that shares his name.
Thomas Cook, 29, is reported by the Nottingham Post to be stuck in Rhodes with his fiance Amelia, 27, ahead of their planned wedding on 27 September.
He told the newspaper: "Thomas Cook promised us a surprise on our wedding because of my name but this was not the surprise we were expecting.
"I am just devastated. We have got 30 plus friends and family coming out, half are stuck at home in limbo. My best man is still in England. No one here knows anything."
Live Reporting
Dearbail Jordan, Simon Read and Becky Morton
All times stated are UK
Thomas Cook can come back from the ashes - union boss
Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent
The boss of the TSSA union - the main union representing Thomas Cook workers - has questioned the government's decision to refuse to bailout the company.
“I think people will question the morality of a government that is prepared to see 9,000 jobs go and is prepared to disrupt the holidays of 150,000 people when saving the company would have been cheaper than paying the repatriation costs," Manuel Cortes tells the BBC.
He says Peterborough, where the company's headquarters is based, “must be in mourning”.
The union will be pushing the government to see if Thomas Cook can be resurrected, he adds.
“The planes are all at the airport, they’ve got a tour operator that is viable, they've got shops that sell holidays, they've got an internet operation that does likewise.
"There is no reason why the company can’t come back from the ashes," he says.
Peterborough United offer free match tickets to Thomas Cook employees
Peterborough United is offering Thomas Cook employees free tickets to their match against AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.
Thomas Cook's headquarters have been based in the city since 1977 and the company provided sponsorship to the football team in the 1990s.
Thomas Cook customers 'left in the dark'
Thomas Cook customers have told the BBC of their fears over unpaid hotel bills, cancelled trips and being stranded abroad.
For one British family on holiday in Cyprus, the firm's failure means a wedding marred by uncertainty, and worries over vital medication.
Grandmother Mary Nichols, 87, has a heart condition and only enough medication to last until Wednesday - the day her prescription runs out.
Grandson Matt Walker, 23, paid Thomas Cook about £1,100 by debit card for flights and hotel accommodation for Ms Nichols and his mother Sarah, 53, so they could attend his brother's wedding in Paphos on Tuesday.
Read their story here
Train operators relax ticket restrictions for Thomas Cook customers
Other train operators including Virgin Trains, Southern Rail, Gatwick Express, Thameslink and Great Northern are also offering flexible travel on tickets booked by Thomas Cook customers.
There are more details on their websites.
Airport saw 150 Thomas Cook passengers still turn up
Mike O'Sullivan
Reporter, East Midlands Today
About 150 people booked on Thomas Cook flights turned up this morning, Karen Smart, managing director of East Midlands Airport, confirmed.
She said: "I think the communication was excellent and a lot were able to be informed beforehand.
"The vast majority who turned up did so to book other flights with other airlines to make sure they got away on holiday."
She also said Thomas Cook was an "important but small" part of the airport's custom.
Replacement flights 'severely delayed'
Edward Hardy is at Corfu airport waiting for a replacement flight to return home.
He says staff have warned replacement planes are "severely delayed and might not have the capacity to take everyone home".
At Manchester Airport, the arrivals board also shows a number of replacement flights back to the UK have been delayed.
What went wrong at Thomas Cook?
The travel giant failed to raise money to secure its future after three profit warnings in a year.
Read moreThomas Cook staff 'deserve round of applause'
Despite his holiday confusion Jonathan Boyce has nothing but praise for the Thomas Cook reps at the Cooks Club Adakoy in Marmaris in Turkey.
"The two reps have been here since this morning and have been fantastic organising people, transport and reassuring everyone that all is well. All while fighting back the tears of knowing they haven’t a job to go home to," Jonathan tells Business Live.
"Despite not knowing their future they’ve done a fantastic job and with all the negative press, the ones remaining and trying to sort matters deserve a round of applause."
We couldn't agree more, Jonathan.
'We've been treated extremely poorly'
Friends Madison Millar and Katie O'Mara, both 22 years old, were booked on a Thomas Cook flight to Malta from Gatwick Airport due to leave today.
Ms Millar, who is a student in Brighton, was unaware that Thomas Cook had ceased functioning and feels they have been treated "extremely poorly" by the company.
"I checked in yesterday, I didn't even get an email to say our flight was cancelled," she tells the BBC.
"It looks like there are no other flights going to Malta today. So it's a shame."
Football fans hit by holiday firm collapse
Sport fans are awaiting news on whether tickets for upcoming European football away games and NFL Football matches in London will be valid following the collapse of Thomas Cook.
A number of Premier League clubs as well as the NFL used Thomas Cook Sport for match packages.
Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs, Arsenal and Manchester City have all sold hospitality for games.
Meanwhile the NFL has booked packages through Thomas Cook for games in London involving Chicago Bears, Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cincinnati Bengals, LA Rams, Houston Texans and and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Full story here
And now for some good(-ish) news
Richard Llewellyn is in Zakynthos and has emailed Business Live to say the repatriation operation there of Thomas Cook customers is running pretty smoothly.
He writes: "Waiting at Zakynthos airport for our flight back to Cardiff. Great organisation here, there are lots of Atol/British government officials here giving advice to passengers making it a lot less stressful!
"Our only stress now is trying to avoid the Wales rugby score to watch it tonight."
You can see the result of the Wales v Georgia World Cup clash here.
'It’s only a wedding and some people have lost their jobs'
Jean Stephenson, from Derbyshire, booked her wedding next October with Thomas Cook.
"We booked our wedding in Cyprus next year with Thomas Cook and booked for all our guests too.
"I rang on Friday to ask if the wedding was ATOL-protected.
"They rang me yesterday to say if it went into liquidation that it was, but the party line then was still that it wouldn’t happen.
"I know it’s only a wedding and some people have lost their jobs, but to be honest I’m pretty devastated right now.
"My partner suggests looking at other tour operators but I’m wary.
"Thomas Cook is one of the biggest tour operators and if they’ve gone under… So I’m reluctant now."
Royal Caribbean 'will honour' Thomas Cook bookings
Royal Caribbean is the latest cruise company to confirm that trips booked through Thomas Cook will go ahead.
It told one customer on Twitter that it was contacting affected customers in order of their planned departure date.
P&O and Fred Olsen earlier confirmed they too will honour cruises booked through Thomas Cook.
'I'm trying to get to Jamaica because my uncle is ill'
BBC Radio 5 Live
Latisha, Kennedy, Stacey and Helena are at Manchester Airport, trying to get to Jamaica.
Latisha told BBC Radio 5 Live: "We're going home - my uncle is ill so we were going to see him before the worst happened.
"We called Thomas Cook on Saturday to see if everything was going smoothly - they said yes it was perfect - we left Wolverhampton and came to Manchester but as we came through the door we heard the announcement.
"We are here trying to see if we can get on the next flight today. We're not getting any help, it's a great disappointment."
Virgin Trains offer ticket flexibility for Thomas Cook customers
Where rescue flights are planned
Thomas Cook has collapsed and now the CAA has launched a massive repatriation programme to bring holidaymakers home.
800,000 future Thomas Cook bookings are cancelled
Video content
Thomas Cook had 800,000 future bookings which have now been cancelled after the firm went into liquidation in the early hours of this morning.
The repatriation of 155,000 Brits abroad by the CAA has begun.
NFL looking into Thomas Cook collapse for customers
There are a number of people who have said on social media that they have booked travel and tickets for the forthcoming NFL games through Thomas Cook.
The NFL said: "We are aware of the concerns of NFL fans who have purchased tickets for this season’s London games via Thomas Cook. We are investigating the situation in order to be able to advise on a course of action and will have further information as soon as possible.”
Tui shares up 7.5% on Thomas Cook news
Shares in Thomas Cook rival Tui have soared around 7.5% this morning, to be one of the FTSE 100's few bright points.
Tui shares have climbed 62.40 to 903.00.
At mid-day the blue chip index was down 35.62, or 0.49%, at 7,308.77.
Man named Thomas Cook has wedding plans thrown into doubt
A man has had his wedding holiday thrown into doubt after the demise of the travel firm that shares his name.
Thomas Cook, 29, is reported by the Nottingham Post to be stuck in Rhodes with his fiance Amelia, 27, ahead of their planned wedding on 27 September.
He told the newspaper: "Thomas Cook promised us a surprise on our wedding because of my name but this was not the surprise we were expecting.
"I am just devastated. We have got 30 plus friends and family coming out, half are stuck at home in limbo. My best man is still in England. No one here knows anything."