Thomas Cook Traveller And Stranded In Malta? Here’s What You Must Do Next
Around 500 travellers have been left stranded in Malta after the British travel company declared bankruptcy this week.
In light of the situation, the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority has issued advice to passengers about what their rights are.
Passengers should first check if they were given an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (ATOL) certificate when they booked their flight or package holiday. If so, this would grant them financial protection from insolvency and they can claim a refund for the unused travel services with the British Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
As from next Monday 30th September, the CAA will launch a service to manage all refunds within two months of receipt and further information will be made available on the CAA website in the coming days.
Passengers not in possession of an ATOL certificate are advised to check their travel insurance policy to find out whether they are entitled for a refund and to contact their bank to see if a chargeback can be made in cases where their trip was paid by credit card.
People who have a Thomas Cook flight booked through a travel company or agent should contact their travel operator and check about any possible alternative travel arrangements.
A repatriation programme has been set up for passengers seeking to fly back to the UK and will be in operation till Sunday 6th October, after which date passengers will have to make their own travel arrangements.
Passengers whose return flight is not to the UK must make their own travel arrangements and seek refunds through the AWOL scheme or travel insurance.
Air Malta has also offered discounted flights of €50, excluding taxes and other fees, to stranded passengers who wish to travel to Amsterdam, Brussels, Birmingham, London Heathrow, Gatwick and Southend, Berlin, Bristol, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich, Paris Orly and Charles De Gaulle, Marseille, Lyon, Milan, Rome, Geneva, Zurich, and Vienna.
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