The Thomas Cook bankruptcy and its aftermath

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Passenger
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Re: Thomas Cook ceases trading; UK CAA launches giant programme to fly its customers home

Post by Passenger »

Thomas Cook the Netherlands has asked the court for protection from its creditors.

Passenger
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Re: Thomas Cook ceases trading; UK CAA launches giant programme to fly its customers home

Post by Passenger »

To the people in Zwijnaarde: I really hope you can enjoy this:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec-pF2IeqKw

https://twitter.com/DeIdealeWereld/stat ... 1287934976

ostair
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Re: Thomas Cook ceases trading; UK CAA launches giant programme to fly its customers home

Post by ostair »

Can we see the Sunweb group taking over the group of Thomas Cook Belgium?
I am thinking of the Neckermann/Thomas Cook travels shops.
Thomas Cook Belgium was(or still is) the number 2 travelagent in Belgium.

Corendon airlines operating the flights?

Pegase is a niche traveloperator who could still operate without too much damage to the brand.

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sn26567
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Re: Thomas Cook ceases trading; UK CAA launches giant programme to fly its customers home

Post by sn26567 »

ostair wrote: 25 Sep 2019, 22:52 Pegase is a niche traveloperator who could still operate without too much damage to the brand.
Thomas Cook Belgium sold Pegase in September 2018. Pegase is now independent and not affected by the insolvency of Thomas Cook.
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Re: Thomas Cook ceases trading; UK CAA launches giant programme to fly its customers home

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ostair wrote: 25 Sep 2019, 22:52 Can we see the Sunweb group taking over the group of Thomas Cook Belgium?
I am thinking of the Neckermann/Thomas Cook travels shops.
Thomas Cook Belgium was (or still is) the number 2 travelagent in Belgium.

Corendon airlines operating the flights?

Pegase is a niche traveloperator who could still operate without too much damage to the brand.
The most valuable assets from Thomas Cook Belgium are their clientele, their brand name Thomas Cook, their brand name Neckermann, their negociated contracts with suppliers and their sales system. For Thomas Cook, sales is via travel agencies (= via BTN Belgian Travel Network) and direct (their website and their Thomas Cook Travel Shops). For brand name Neckermann, sales are direct and via their own Neckermann shops. And there is the problem: who will be interested in buying a Thomas Cook Travel Shop, when the value of "Thomas Cook" has dropped so much? Same for the Neckermann offices. On top, Neckermann staff has almost no experience with all other touroperating possibilities.

TUI then? There are already TUIcenters in most commercial areas. Just one example: why would TUI buy the Neckermann agency at Wijnegem Shopping Center, when TUI has already an agency of their own there?

Sunweb (and Corendon) aren't interested in "brickwall" travel agencies: both are online touroperators.

Sure, the brand names Thomas Cook and Neckermann are too valuable to throw away. But the brand names "Thomas Cook" and "Neckermann" now belong to the liquidator of Thomas Cook U.K.

Pegase (cfr post André) has been separated from Thomas Cook Belgium in September 2018, when nv Pegase Travel was established by investment holding BV Capital Partners. Most THCB Pegase staff was transferred to the new entity, with Jeroen Decroos (ex THCB Pegase) becoming CEO nv Pegase Travel.

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Re: Thomas Cook ceases trading; UK CAA launches giant programme to fly its customers home

Post by Passenger »

Repat flights 26/09/2019:

Enfidha-Brussels SN3882 08h50-12h35
Palma-Brussels SN3766 08h55-11h10
Almeria-Brussels SN3776 09h35-12h10
Faro-Brussels SN3802 09h45-13h30
Heraklion-Brussels SN3256 11h20-13h55
Rhodos-Brussels SN3234 12h55-15h35
Thessaloniki-Brussels SN3232 13h45-15h35
Marr akech-Brussels SN3855 15h40-22h05
Agadir-Brussels SN3855 17h25-22h05
Lanzarote-Brussels SN3788 18h15-23h15
Tenerife-Brussels SN3782 18h25-23h40
Zakinthos-Brussels SN3264 21h40-23h45

Dalaman-Brussels TWI-477 11h30-14h15
Antalya-Brussels TWI-461 20h40-23h45

Repat flights 27/09/2019:

Djerba-Brussels SN3886 08h45-12h50
Alicante-Brussels SN3772 09h15-11h40
Heraklion-Brussels SN3256 11h20-13h55
Malaga-Brussels SN3736 17h00-19h45
Gran Canaria-Brussels SN3784 18h15-23h25
Tenerife-Brussels SN3782 18h40-23h55
Hurghada-Brussels SN3334 19h05-00h30 (+1)
Santorini-Brussels SN3242 19:55-22h25

Izmir-Brussels TWI-453 12h20-14h55
Antalya-Brussels TWI-465 21h30-00h35

(Source: Garantiefonds Reizen / Fonds de Garantie de Voyages)

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Re: Thomas Cook ceases trading; UK CAA launches giant programme to fly its customers home

Post by Passenger »

For stranded tourists: you are not obliged to return earlier then scheduled. If you want to stay at your holiday destination as booked/paid, feel free to do so.

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luchtzak
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Re: Thomas Cook ceases trading; UK CAA launches giant programme to fly its customers home

Post by luchtzak »

Brussels Airlines, forced to cancel 105 “Thomas Cook” flights in October, offers 20% discount to sunny holiday destinations

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/luft ... tinations/

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Re: Thomas Cook ceases trading; UK CAA launches giant programme to fly its customers home

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Thomas Cook Belgium cancels all the trips.
Hi. I'm Thibault Lapers. @ThibaultLapers & @TLspotting

Jetter
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Re: Thomas Cook ceases trading; UK CAA launches giant programme to fly its customers home

Post by Jetter »

luchtzak wrote: 26 Sep 2019, 16:03 Brussels Airlines, forced to cancel 105 “Thomas Cook” flights in October, offers 20% discount to sunny holiday destinations

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/luft ... tinations/
The article isn't very clear about the number of flights cancelled. It says 105 in October, but SN is quoted as 105 between October and summer 20202.

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luchtzak
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Re: Thomas Cook ceases trading; UK CAA launches giant programme to fly its customers home

Post by luchtzak »

Jetter wrote: 26 Sep 2019, 17:51
luchtzak wrote: 26 Sep 2019, 16:03 Brussels Airlines, forced to cancel 105 “Thomas Cook” flights in October, offers 20% discount to sunny holiday destinations

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/luft ... tinations/
The article isn't very clear about the number of flights cancelled. It says 105 in October, but SN is quoted as 105 between October and summer 20202.
It's until the end of October, end of Summer season 2019

Poiu
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Re: Thomas Cook ceases trading; UK CAA launches giant programme to fly its customers home

Post by Poiu »

Jetter wrote: 26 Sep 2019, 17:51
luchtzak wrote: 26 Sep 2019, 16:03 Brussels Airlines, forced to cancel 105 “Thomas Cook” flights in October, offers 20% discount to sunny holiday destinations

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/luft ... tinations/
The article isn't very clear about the number of flights cancelled. It says 105 in October, but SN is quoted as 105 between October and summer 20202.
70000 holidays have been cancelled, so expect at least another 500 flights to be cancelled.

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Re: Thomas Cook ceases trading; UK CAA launches giant programme to fly its customers home

Post by sn26567 »

Thomas Cook France announced that it will ask its placement in receivership at the Nanterre Commercial Court in connection with a potential takeover bid.

Thomas Cook (UK) reportedly failed with a balance sheet deficit of more than £3 billion, according to court documents.
André
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Re: Thomas Cook ceases trading; UK CAA launches giant programme to fly its customers home

Post by Passenger »

28/09/2019
SN 3684 Gerona-Brussels 08:45-10:45
SN 3888 Djerba-Brussels 08:50-12:55
SN 3772 Alicante-Brussels 09:15-11:40
SN 3686 Reus-Brussels 09:30-11:35
SN 3734 Malaga-Brussels 09:40-12:25
SN 3260 Corfu-Brussels 10:25-12:10
SN 3376 Varna-Brussels 10:35-12:30
BJ 5660 Enfidha-Brussels 06:15-10:00
SN 3256 Heraklion-Brussels 11:20-13:55
SN 3802 Faro-Brussels 12:30-16:15
TWI 463 Antalya-Brussels 12:40-15:45
SN 3354 Split-Brussels 14:55-17:05
SN 3782 Tenerife-Brussels 17:15-22:30
SN 3766 Palma-Brussels 17:20-19:35
SN 3823 Funchal-Brussels 17:20-00:35
SN 3788 Lanzarote-Brussels 18:15-23:15
SN 3800 Gran Canaria-Brussels 18:15-23:25
SN 3842 Marrakech-Brussels 18:50-23:25
SN 3326 Hurghada-Brussels 19:15-00:40
SN 3823 Fuenventura-Brussels 19:25-00:35
SN 3330 Marsa Alam-Brussels 19:30-01:05
SN 3400 Paphos-Brussels 19:50-23:10
SN 3238 Chania-Brussels 20:05-22:40
SN 3234 Rhodos-Brussels 20:30-23:10
SN 3244 Kos-Brussels 20:35-23:10
SN 3846 Agadir-Brussels 21:00-01:40
TWI 411 Bodrum-Brussels 21:55-00:35

29/09/2019
SN 3352 Dubrovnik-Brussels 08:40-11:05
SN 3772 Alicante-Brussels 09:15-11:40
SN 3842 Marrakech-Brussels 09:25-14:00
SN 3792 Jerez-Brussels 09:35-12:20
SN 3776 Almeria-Brussels 09:45-12:20
SN 3782 Tenerife-Brussels 10:50-16:05
SN 3378 Bourgas-Brussels 10:50-12:50
SN 3244 Kos-Brussels 11:20-13:55
SN 3802 Faro-Brussels 11:40-15:25
TWI 451 Izmir-Brussels 12:20-14:55
SN 3258 Heraklion-Brussels 13:30-16:05
SN 3264 Zakinthos-Brussels 16:40-18:45
SN 3736 Malaga-Brussels 17:00-19:45
SN 3784 Gran Canaria-Brussels 17:35-22:45
SN 3788 Lanzarote-Brussels 18:15-23:15
SN 3234 Rhodos-Brussels 20:30-23:10
SN 3768 Palma-Brussels 21:10-23:25
TWI 471 Dalaman-Brussels 21:10-23:59

30/09/2019

SN 3772 Alicante-Brussels 09:15-11:40
SN 3766 Palma-Brussels 09:40-11:55
SN 3256 Heraklion-Brussels 11:20-13:55
SN 3736 Malaga-Brussels 17:00-19:45
TWI 463 Antalya-Brussels 17:50-20:55
SN 3782 Tenerife-Brussels 18:00-23:15
SN 3326 Hurghada-Brussels 19:15-00:40

Source: Garantiefonds Reizen / Fonds de Garantie de Voyages

PttU
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Re: Thomas Cook ceases trading; UK CAA launches giant programme to fly its customers home

Post by PttU »

What makes those flights repat flights? They're normal planned flights which are confirmed?

Inquirer
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Re: Thomas Cook ceases trading; UK CAA launches giant programme to fly its customers home

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PttU wrote: 27 Sep 2019, 21:33 What makes those flights repat flights? They're normal planned flights which are confirmed?
I'd say the only difference is who's paying for the flight?
Poiu wrote: 26 Sep 2019, 18:52 70000 holidays have been cancelled, so expect at least another 500 flights to be cancelled.
Probably, but I find the number of flights actually cancelled vs the total number of tourist flights they offer quite low: to me is shows they have built a basis to support operating to these kind of destinations on their own, something which also got supported by posts like these in another topic on this forum:
I have called the contact centre for my flight leaving 19th October, returning 29th October: they consider Lanzarote as a "popular" destination and will continue flights for the time being.


It's all very nice to be openly dreaming of them flying with high frequencies (say 4 times daily) to more 'business destinations' in Europe, but you got to do something with the planes in weekends too, don't you?
Provided you can fill them on those business routes and at those high frequencies on weekdays, that is....
And when the airport is actively attracting LCC, often for those same routes, it becomes even harder to keep a network up, so it shouldn't be coming as a surprise they take opportunistic decisions like going for holiday routes too, both via package deals like the one with Thomas Cook which now fell through, yet clearly also by their own distribution channels.

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Re: Thomas Cook ceases trading; UK CAA launches giant programme to fly its customers home

Post by sn26567 »

TUI comes to the rescue of travellers whose future travel is cancelled, at least in Belgium:

https://www.aviation24.be/tour-operator ... cancelled/
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Re: Thomas Cook ceases trading; UK CAA launches giant programme to fly its customers home

Post by sn26567 »

Indigo Partners (US) is in advanced takeover talks with Condor (Germany). That's fast!

But Ryanair says it is not interested in taking over any of the airlines of travel firm Thomas Cook (UK), which has gone into liquidation.
André
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Re: Thomas Cook ceases trading; UK CAA launches giant programme to fly its customers home

Post by Passenger »

sn26567 wrote: 27 Sep 2019, 23:01 TUI comes to the rescue of travellers whose future travel is cancelled, at least in Belgium:
https://www.aviation24.be/tour-operator ... cancelled/
Sounds great... but if one reads the conditions, the vacationers sign a commitment with TUI, but don't get a benefit all.
NL:
https://www.tui.be/nl/tui-helpt#een
FR:
https://www.tui.be/fr/tui-vous-aides

Even without intervention from TUI, people who have booked a Thomas Cook or Neckermann holiday, will get full refund from the Garantiefonds Reizen / Fonds de Garantie de Voyages (GFR/FGV). Actually, they have to deliver to TUI exactly the same documents as they have to give to the GFR/FGV. And TUI doesn't give them the deduction at the moment they sign for a new trip: that happens only after end approval of the file by the GFR/FGV.

I advise tourists to file a request direct with the GFR/FGV, and then book a new trip once the GFR/FGV has refunded. Sure, that will take some time - but the same waiting time applies for the files that TUI sends to the GFR/FGV. It's low season now (except for Xmas), and prices will drop a lot the next weeks because hotels are releasing their Thomas Cook allotments.

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Re: Thomas Cook ceases trading; UK CAA launches giant programme to fly its customers home

Post by Passenger »

PttU wrote: 27 Sep 2019, 21:33 What makes those flights repat flights? They're normal planned flights which are confirmed?
With the bankruptcy, all contractual obligations from Brussels Airlines towards Thomas Cook end. Hence Brussels Airlines has cancelled all THCB bookings. Conform travel legislation, the Garantiefonds Reizen / Fonds de Garantie de Voyages takes over those responsabilities.

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