Holiday firm takes on staff who lost jobs following Thomas Cook collapse

Holiday firm Jet2.com and Jet2holidays has taken on 120 ex-Thomas Cook staff.

The recruits include more than 50 pilots, 20 engineers, and almost 40 cabin crew staff who have accepted offers of training and after successful completion will join the company in time for Summer 2020.

Following the collapse of Thomas Cook the leisure airline and package holiday specialist has worked to offer ex-colleagues the opportunity to find alternative employment, hosting a number of dedicated recruitment roadshows.

The collapse of the UK’s oldest travel firm led to the loss of 3,000 jobs in the Greater Manchester area.

The roadshows took place across the country in Manchester, Peterborough, Birmingham Airport and London Stansted Airport, as well as overseas.

The roadshows, designed specifically for ex-Thomas Cook colleagues, gave prospective colleagues an understanding as to what it is like to work for Jet2.com and Jet2holidays.

The firm is continuing its recruitment drive and is busy holding assessment days.

The company anticipates that it could employ a further 50 pilots by the end of February, taking the total number of ex-Thomas Cook recruited pilots to more than 100.

Meanwhile, over 20 engineers from Thomas Cook have accepted offers to join the company and planning is underway to fill a further 50 engineering posts.

Almost 40 cabin crew from Thomas Cook have also been offered training at Jet2.com and Jet2holidays with the largest influx being at Manchester Airport where 20 cabin crew have received offers at this base alone.

There are also further candidates being offered places on the training scheme, meaning that this number is only likely to increase.

At its commercial office in Leeds City Centre, the company has made offers to appoint a contracts manager, overseas operations trainer and business analyst with further candidates currently going through the recruitment process.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “We moved very quickly to help people during a difficult time, and we are delighted to appoint talented colleagues and welcome them to our award-winning team.

“We have focused specifically on hiring individuals who share our value of delivering a VIP customer service. With an ever-growing programme, with new destinations and more aircraft being added to our fleet, it is a very exciting time for Jet2.com and Jet2holidays.

“ We expect to recruit even more ex-Thomas Cook employees and look forward to welcoming them in the near future, as our company continues to grow.”