UK Secures Planes to Repatriate Stranded Thomas Cook Tourists from Greece

The SENTIDO Blue Sea Beach Hotel by Thomas Cook on Crete.

The planes for the departure of thousands of Thomas Cook customers from Greece back to the UK have been secured, the British Ambassador to Greece, Kate Smith, informed Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis on Tuesday.

During the meeting in Athens, discussions focused on the financial collapse of UK tour operator Thomas Cook, how it affects Greece and the UK and the measures taken to address the issue immediately.

UK Ambassador to Greece, Kate Smith.

On her part, the ambassador referred to some 17,000 British tourists that will to return to the UK from 13 different parts of Greece, over the next two weeks.

“Right now the priority is for this large-scale repatriation process to succeed,” Ambassador Smith said.

“I want to emphasize that all aircraft involved in this operation have been secured. The UK Civil Aviation Authority, which has taken over this big effort, is in contact with the hotels that carry holiday packages of Thomas Cook, informing them that the cost of stay for guests affected by the tour operator’s bankruptcy has been handled,” she said.

Apart from discussing the issues raised by the collapse of Thomas Cook, Minister Theoharis and Ambassador Smith also focused talks concerning Brexit and bilateral relations.