Up to 2,500 Thomas Cook jobs saved as UK stores bought up

Up to 2,500 jobs could be saved following the sale of Thomas Cook’s chain of 555 UK travel agencies to Hays Travel, following the collapse of the holiday firm last month.

Hays Travel, which claims it is the UK’s largest independent travel agent, has acquired all the Thomas Cook stores and has said it will re-employ a “significant number” of former employees.

“Thomas Cook was a much-loved brand employing talented people,” said John and Irene Hays, managing director and group chair of Hays Travel. “We look forward to working with many of them.”

The travel company, which also operates Just Go Travel, said it has already hired 421 former Thomas Cook employees following the appointment official receiver last month.

“This is an extremely positive outcome, and we are delighted to have secured this agreement,” said Jim Tucker, a partner at KPMG and joint special manager of Thomas Cook’s retail division.

“It provides re-employment opportunities for a significant number of former Thomas Cook employees and secures the future of retail sites up and down the UK high street.”