Holidaymakers ignored fears surrounding and jetted off on their foreign trips not knowing if they’d be flown home.
Travellers arrived at Glasgow Airport yesterday ready to depart on flights to Mexico, Turkey and the Canary Islands even though they risked being left stranded overseas.
More than a thousand turned up as planned for the start of their sunshine breaks while union leaders pleaded with the UK Government to stump up a
The Transport Salaried Staffs Association, which represents workers at the company, said the ministers should be ready to assist with “real support”.
General secretary Manuel Cortes called for an urgent meeting with Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom.
He said in a letter: “It is incumbent upon the Government to act if required and save this iconic cornerstone of the British high street and the thousands of jobs that go with it.
“I urge you to stand ready to assist with real financial support.
“No British Government in its right mind would countenance the loss of so many jobs and the prospect of just one major travel operator - TUI - controlling the mass market.”
It is understood that Thomas Cook has approached the Government in an attempt to plug a gap in its funding.
The travel company could fall into administration
Investors including its biggest shareholder, Fosun of China, have refused to provide more cash, having already committed to a £900million rescue package for the 178-year-old travel firm.
A collapse would
The cost of a repatriation operation, dubbed Operation Matterhorn, is estimated to be around £600million.
Fears over being left abroad without a flight home did not prevent Scottish holidaymakers from embarking on their trip.
Chris Boyd, of Irvine, Ayrshire, who was flying to Turkey with wife Ashley and daughter Ava, said: “I just want to get on the plane, take off and have a couple of beers to celebrate.
“We’ve saved hard for our holiday just like everyone else.
“If something does go wrong when we’re away, then we know we’ll get back to Scotland safely.
“Until anything happens, I won’t be giving it a second thought.”
Wilson Howie, of Dundonald, Ayrshire, who was flying to Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands with wife Tracey, said: “Obviously we’ve been watching the news and there’s been a lot of speculation over the holiday company.
“But what will be, will be."
Grace Millar, of Glasgow, on the same flight, said: “I’m more concerned for the staff than our holiday.”
Thomas Cook said discussions to agree final terms on the recapitalisation and reorganisation of the company were continuing with a range of stakeholders.
“These discussions include a recent request for a seasonal standby facility of £200million, on top of the previously announced £900million injection of new capital.”
