Thomas Cook is set to relaunch ‘in the next few weeks’ but with some big changes

Thomas Cook, the UK’s oldest tour operator, could be making a return to the travel industry a year after the company folded. 

The owners of Club Med and Wolverhampton Wanderers, Chinese conglomerate Fosun, saved the brand from completely vanishing after it went under in September last year. 

According to some reports it looks like Fosun could be bringing back Thomas Cook as a travel agent. 

Sky News has reported that Fosun is awaiting necessary regulatory approvals and for any quarantine updates on British citizens.

Thomas Cook looks set to relaunch as just an online travel agent and will be dropping the Thomas Cook airline, high street shops and branded hotels previously operated by the company.

The relaunch is reportedly set to go ahead this month, exactly a year after the company collapsed. 

The firm filed for administration on September 23rd last year. The news left 150,000 UK holidaymakers stuck abroad and caused the biggest peacetime repatriation of Britons abroad, totalling to an estimated cost of £150m. 

The 178-year-old firm was bailed out by Fosun. Chairman Jiannong said: “The group has always believed in the brand value of Thomas Cook.

“The acquisition of the Thomas Cook brand will enable the group to expand its tourism business building on the extensive brand awareness of Thomas Cook and the robust growth momentum of Chinese outbound tourism.”

He added: “Following the acquisition, the group will focus on business expansion, using the newly acquired Thomas Cook brands to create synergies with the existing businesses of the group.”

The Chinese firm bought the assets including the trademarks, domain names, software applications, social media accounts and licences. However, 555 stores were sold for just £6m to rival Hays Travel.