SCOTTISH travellers hit by the Thomas Cook collapse yesterday hailed the “brilliant” airlines that brought them home.
The repatriation of all affected UK residents – 150,000 – is the biggest ever carried out during peacetime.
READ MORE: Thomas Cook: Fears for Scots workers as firm ceases trading
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has chartered flights to bring some people back to the UK and those yet to take pre-booked Thomas Cook holidays have been urged not to go to the airport.
A refund and compensation service for customers will be launched by the CAA on Monday and will serve those with ATOL coverage.
Yesterday the first flights of returning travellers landed at Glasgow Airport in Renfrewshire as the industry and the public reeled from the news.
READ MORE: Thomas Cook: Scots flights cancelled as company collapses
They came from destinations including Zante, Orlando and Menorca, with later arrivals cancelled.
One returnee, David Rennolds from Saltcoats, praised Miami Airlines for “really good” service, explaining: “The coach arrived and picked us up and the ATOL guys were there and we checked in with a different airline – we didn’t even know what airline it was.
“We’ve lost a friend, basically, with the end of Thomas Cook.”
Livingston man Chris Salen also hailed the “brilliant” airline for bringing him and teenage daughter Erin back from Zante, saying: “It was stressful finding out the news about Thomas Cook. It was very sad news.
“ATOL have been brilliant and the flight back was brilliant.”
However, 61-year-old Helensburgh man Jim Hatton had been holidaying says he fears he will run out of “vital heart medication” before he can return from Menorca, saying: “Last night was sleepless. I was watching all the Thomas Cook aircraft heading for the UK on the FlightRadar app knowing that an announcement would only be made once most of the aircraft were home.
“Thomas Cook staff are highly visible and helping with the repatriation process. One lovely lady said she has been working for Thomas Cook for 43 years. Now she doesn’t know what she’s going to do.”
And stories are emerging of cancelled dream trips to Walt Disney World in Orlando and threatened sunshine weddings. One man told BBC Radio Scotland how he may lose £30,000 paid for a Caribbean wedding package in November.
Around 40 aircraft from as far away as Malaysia have been chartered to operate approximately 1000 flights over the next two weeks as part of the CAA’s Operation Matterhorn.
Most of the £100 million cost will be met from funds held by the ATOL scheme, with the UK Government also making a contribution.
Easyjet and Virgin are amongst those taking part, though some planes will be brought in from Malaysia and elsewhere.
Citizens Advice Scotland head Derek Mitchell said his team is ready to help consumers in the “horrible situation".
He said: “We would like to reassure people stranded abroad or with a holiday booked that their rights are protected. We would also urge them to show patience with staff.”
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