ESky Group takeover of Thomas Cook receives CAA approval

ESky Group has confirmed it has completed the acquisition of online travel company Thomas Cook following regulatory approval from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

The Poland-based business, which bought Thomas Cook from the Fosun Tourism Group in September, said the brand now holds an Atol for 215,000 passengers, which is described as more than double its previous licensed capacity.

ESky Group chief holidays officer Alan French said: “The opportunity for us to use our holidays expertise combined with eSky’s technology will help us to realise our ambitions of re-establishing Thomas Cook as a leading holiday company once again.”

The brand and its 70-strong team are being fully integrated into the eSky Group as the parent company targets growth across Europe.

ESky Group co-founder and chief executive Lukasz Habaj said: “Adding Thomas Cook to the eSky and eDestinos family of brands is a key part of our group’s transformation from primarily a flight platform to an online travel agency.

“It is our ambition to become one of the leading dynamic package sellers in Europe, as well as more firmly establishing ourselves in the minds of western European travellers.”

ESky Group said its technology would allow Thomas Cook to significantly expand its flight offering and lead to the integration of 560 airlines.

The technology would also help Thomas Cook to reduce its operating costs and “significantly” boost its profitability, the group added.

French said: “The new Thomas Cook has enjoyed considerable success in a relatively short period of time.

“We are on track to end the year on a turnover of almost £115 million without additional investment and having already started to build our market share in this highly competitive sector.”

Following Thomas Cook’s collapse in 2019, it was relaunched as an online-only business in 2020.