Thomas Cook Group plc Collapses

Thomas Cook Group plc Collapses By Tally M. Wiener, Esq. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) returned 150,000 passengers to the United Kingdom following the collapse of the world’s oldest travel firm 1 Thomas Cook Group plc in September of 2019. 2 This was part of an initiative called “Operation Matterhorn” through which the CAA undertook what is considered to be the largest peacetime repatriation effort in British history. 3 The CAA reported that, during the first 13 days of Operation Matterhorn, 94% of holidaymakers arrived at home on the day of their original departure. 4 Remaining passengers needed to make separate arrangements to return home. The British Broadcasting Channel (BBC) reported that people who were covered by the Air Travel Organiser’s License scheme (Atol) would have the cost of their travel packages refunded and that the majority of Thomas Cook holidays were packages that are Atol protected. 5 As the turmoil was unfolding, British Airways announced