Flights depart to bring home final passengers of Operation Matterhorn flying programme

• UK Civil Aviation Authority launched largest peacetime repatriation plan 'Operation Matterhorn' on 23 September 2019 to bring 150,000 people back to the UK
• Around 150 aircraft have been used as part of the Matterhorn fleet
• Yesterday, 22 flights operated to bring back around 3,994 passengers
• Around 140,000 passengers have been flown back to UK during the operation
• About 94% of people have flown back on the original days of their cancelled Thomas Cook flight
• 24 flights are scheduled to operate today, 6 October, returning another 4,800 people
• Last of over 700 flights are due to land tomorrow morning, Monday 7 October
• If you are not ATOL protected and you are due to return after 7 October, there may be limited capacity on a repatriation flight for you today. Remaining seats will be released on a first come, first served basis.

Richard Moriarty, Chief Executive at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: "This is the final day of our two-week flying programme, during which will see 24 flights bring home a final 4,800 passengers. The programme is not over yet and we still have work to do, but I would like to say a sincere thank you to everyone who has played their part in this operation so far.

"In the first 13 days we have made arrangements for around 140,000 passengers to return to the UK and we are pleased that 94 per cent of holidaymakers have arrived home on the day of their original departure."

If you are not ATOL protected, and you are due to return on or after the 7 October but wish to return early, there may be availability on an existing CAA-chartered repatriation flight today. There is no guarantee of seat availability and passengers due to return home before the 7 October will be prioritised. Remaining seats will be released on a first come, first served basis.

To find out if there are available seats on repatriation flights in your destination please contact the CAA call centre on +44 1753 330 330. This will be the only way to apply and you will not be able to book seats at the airport. Therefore, please do not go to the airport unless the call centre has confirmed you on a flight.

The CAA estimates that we have up to 4,800 people to bring back to the UK in the final day of the flying programme. This figure is based on Thomas Cook booking data.

Thomas Cook customers are reminded to check the dedicated website for further information - thomascook.caa.co.uk.

Flying programme information:

Note:

The number of passengers reported is based on Thomas Cook booking data. It is likely that some passengers booked on these flights will choose to make alternative arrangements and therefore not fly, thus reducing the actual number of people who travel on our aircraft.