Customers of the Thomas Cook organizers in Germany can not make scheduled trips until the end of the year. "Due to insolvency reasons" travel with departure date could not take place, including 31 December, even if they were paid in part or in full, the company said.
Previously, the German Thomas Cook, who had filed for bankruptcy in September after the bankruptcy of the British parent company, already canceled all trips until the end of October.
The guests affected by the extension of this period should now be informed by the organizers as soon as possible. This applies to the tour operator brands Thomas Cook Signature, Thomas Cook Signature Finest Selection, Neckermann Reisen, Öger Tours, Bucher Travel and Air Marin as well as services booked via Thomas Cook International.
For journeys starting on or after 1 January 2020, the further course of action should be reviewed "in coordination with the insolvency administration". Affected customers can register their claims with the service provider Kaera, which is commissioned by the insurer Zurich.
"We are very sorry that we have to cancel these trips, but can not guarantee their implementation," said Stefanie Berk, CEO of Thomas Cook GmbH. "With this decision, we also want to create greater planning security, especially over the Christmas holidays," she added. "Because we know that the confusion of the past two weeks has been very difficult for our customers and distribution partners, we apologize from the bottom of our hearts."
The company is now working at full speed to be able to resume operations from 1 December and then be able to offer travel again from 1 January 2020.
Almost all guests back
According to the temporary insolvency administrator of Bucher Reisen & Öger Tours GmbH, Julia Kappel-Gnirs, the talks with potential investors are going well "and giving hope". Numerous strategic investors and financial investors would have expressed their interest both in the entire German Thomas Cook Group and in individual parts of the company.
Thomas Cook Germany had fallen into the maelstrom of bankruptcy of the British parent company and filed for bankruptcy on 25 September. All holiday package travelers, who were at their holiday destination at that time, were able to "continue their holiday to the end" according to the company.
Apart from a few long-term travelers almost all 140,000 guests have now returned to their home country as planned. This is one of the most important goals, all travelers from the resorts safely back to their starting point, achieved.