TRAVEL firm Thomas Cook has undergone an online-only relaunch after being bought by a Chinese company – and it now employs only 50 people.
Fosun Tourism Group acquired the brand for £11 million after the 178-year-old travel company collapsed in September 2019.
The collapse led to 9000 job losses and the repatriation of around 150,000 overseas holidaymakers.
The brand began selling holidays online and over the phone on Wednesday but does not have any stores.
Alan French, who was group strategy and technology director at Thomas Cook when it collapsed, has been hired as UK chief executive of the new travel agency.
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He said: “What happened last year was a tragedy at a personal level for many thousands of my former colleagues, our business partners and of course our loyal customers.
“The resilience and affection still felt for the Thomas Cook brand reflects the huge commitment and professionalism of those former colleagues.
"We are very much in their debt and hope to have their backing as we look to take the brand into a new era.”
French pledged that the new travel agency’s customers can be “reassured their money is protected” due to its “robust financial structure”.
He said: “We have reinvented one of the most recognisable names in British travel. Our new business will combine fantastic UK-based customer service with an updated operating model protected by Atol and with the backing of a multibillion-dollar organisation.
“We are launching now clearly aware of the short-term challenges posed by the pandemic. We and our Fosun backers are taking the long view and we want to offer choice, customisation and 24/7 on-holiday customer care to families who wish to travel now and in the future."
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