Staff at nine Thomas Cook shops in Lincolnshire, including the two-year-old Cornhill unit in Lincoln, will lose their jobs after the airline collapsed.
Britain’s oldest travel firm confirmed all the UK companies in its group, including Thomas Cook Airlines, have ceased trading. It happened after it failed to pay £200 million to creditors, causing around 150,000 Brits to be stranded in various destinations around the world.
All Thomas Cook’s retail shops have also closed. Thomas Cook has nine shops in Lincolnshire – Lincoln, Boston, Grimsby, Scunthorpe, Spalding, Sleaford, Grantham, Stamford and Skegness.
The exact number of jobs lost has not yet been made public by the firm.
After 9.30am on Monday, September 23 the lights were on but nobody was home at the Lincoln store. The door was locked and no staff appeared to be inside.
The lights are on, but nobody is home. Photo: Connor Creaghan for The Lincolnite
It’s a blow for the Cornhill Quarter, where the newly redeveloped unit will stand empty.
Some Lincoln people woke to the news their flights had been cancelled, with some going to the empty store looking for answers.
Leslie Hankins, 67, told The Lincolnite that he had paid nearly £1,000 for flights to Perth in Australia to visit his brother.
He said: “I am very frustrated about all of this. I just want to know what is happening with my flights.
“I have no idea where I can find the money to pay for more flights to see my brother. He moved over there in 1977 and I have been looking forward to seeing him.”
Leslie Hankins came to the Thomas Cook store with his flight folder. Photo: Connor Creaghan for The Lincolnite
Another couple, who did not want to be named also tried the door on the Thomas Cook building, before one of them said: “We were meant to go on holiday tomorrow. What can we do now?”
The Civil Aviation Authority has secured a fleet of aircraft from around the world to bring Thomas Cook customers back to the UK, with return flights, between September 23 and October 6. It is the UK CAA’s biggest ever peacetime repatriation.
However, all future holidays and flights booked with Thomas Cook are cancelled as of September 23, 2019. Customers in the UK yet to travel are advised not to go to the airport.
A statement from Thomas Cook said: “The Government and the Civil Aviation Authority are now working together to do everything we can to support passengers due to fly back to the UK with Thomas Cook between September 23, 2019 and October 6, 2019. Depending on your location, this will be either on CAA-operated flights or by using existing flights with other airlines.
“If you are already abroad you will find all the information you need about your arrangements to get home on this website.
“If you are due to depart from a UK airport with Thomas Cook Airlines, please do not travel to your UK airport as your flight will not be operating and you will not be able to travel. This repatriation is hugely complex and we are working around the clock to support passengers.”
Richard Moriarty, Chief Executive of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: “News of Thomas Cook’s collapse is deeply saddening for the company’s employees and customers, and we appreciate that more than 150,000 people currently abroad will be anxious about how they will now return to the UK.
“The government has asked us to support Thomas Cook customers on what is the UK’s largest ever peacetime repatriation.
“We have launched, at very short notice, what is effectively one of the UK’s largest airlines, involving a fleet of aircraft secured from around the world. The nature and scale of the operation means that unfortunately some disruption will be inevitable. We ask customers to bear with us as we work around the clock to bring them home.”
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We are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage after a collision caused serious injuries to a 23-year-old man.
Just before 3.30pm yesterday (2 July), we received reports of a collision on Barholm Road in Tallington. It involved a grey BMW 335D estate, a blue BMW 116D and an orange KTM motorcycle.
The motorcycle rider, a 23-year-old man, sustained serious injuries during the collision and was taken to hospital.
If you witnessed the incident and are yet to get in touch with us, please do so. If you have any other information or dashcam footage available that may have captured the road along the A1175 at the time of the collision, get in touch.
By calling 101 quoting incident 282 of 2 July.
By emailing [email protected] quoting incident 282 of 2 July in the subject line.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can report via the independent charity CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111 or online.
The 2022 Destination Lincolnshire Tourism Excellence Awards are open for applications, and Destination Lincolnshire giving you the rare chance to co-create your application with Nell Barrington, a tourism awards veteran, who has helped hundreds of businesses write winning applications over the last 15 years – including national VisitEngland winners.
The Tourism Awards Masterclass is taking place on Tuesday 12 July at 11am for one-hour online. Laura Freer, Head of Marketing at Destination Lincolnshire said: “This is a golden opportunity, after years of hard work and heartache, to get your business and team recognised and rewarded.
“A well written application is key to achieving a coveted place on this year’s shortlist, and I’d encourage all tourism and visitor economy businesses who are thinking of entering – whether they are seasoned at writing award applications or not – to join us for this exclusive masterclass.
“Nell Barrington has worked with us and VisitEngland on the founding application processes of these awards, and she is perfectly placed to assist in co-creating applications that you can be proud of. This is a great opportunity for business development too – whether you are shortlisted for an award or not – discovering how to effectively apply for awards and talk up your business adds another string to your bow.
“Booking is essential and places are limited to just 35 – so be quick! This year we’ve made our masterclass available to partners and also to those who we are yet to work with for free. Call it an added bonus, after two years away from the awards circuit.
The awards masterclass is focussed on the application process, and it will spell out what the judges are looking for. You’ll learn how to make your application stand out from the local competition, helping your chances of going through to the national VisitEngland Awards in 2023.”
There are fifteen categories open for nominations from visitors attraction, accommodation providers, hospitality businesses and many more.
The deadline for nominations is July 29, with online judging starting on July 30 and mystery shopping from August 13. Finalists will be announced on Monday, August 15.
The awards ceremony will be held at the Engine Shed on October 21, and will be hosted by Lincs FM presenter, John Marshall.
The event is organised by Stonebow Media, publishers of The Lincolnite, to celebrate the best businesses in Greater Lincolnshire, alongside headline sponsors Lincoln College and Destination Lincolnshire.
We would also like to thank our other sponsors Visit Lincolnshire, Heart of Lincs, Duncan and Toplis and LNER, insight6 and EV Camel.