Thomas Cook’s financial collapse: How Eastbourne employees and holidaymakers are affected

A national airline company has financially collapsed leaving Eastbourne employees and holidaymakers in turmoil.
Thomas Cook in Terminus RoadThomas Cook in Terminus Road
Thomas Cook in Terminus Road

Thomas Cook went bust this morning (September 23) after the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said the airline has “ceased trading with immediate effect”.

The firm employed 9,000 people in the UK and there are currently 150,000 holidaymakers who need to be repatriated, according to the BBC.

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Gabrielle Pilliu, an Eastbourne resident and Thomas Cook customer, was outside the Terminus Road branch today (September 23) after his trip to Turkey next year has now been cancelled.

Pilliu said, “This holiday has cost us a lot of money. Thomas Cook has stopped communication and from now on I think they’re going to block all communication.

“It’s not easy. We can apply for the money back but we need to re book the holiday for next year. I came to town to see how I can apply for a refund.”

John Wickham and his partner Zoe, from Old Town, are currently away on a Thomas Cook holiday in Marmaris, Turkey. They are due to leave tomorrow and say “things are okay”.

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John said, “We have got a flight home, for now, but nothing is concrete. Just glad we don’t have kids with us.

“We also have four holidays booked with Thomas Cook for next year which we were paying for by direct debit. To say we are disappointed is an understatement.”

The shop in Terminus Road is closed.

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