Thomas Cook, the world's oldest travel firm, has collapsed, stranding hundreds of thousands of holiday-makers around the globe and sparking the largest peacetime repatriation effort in British history.
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The firm runs hotels, resorts, airlines and cruises for 19 million people a year in 16 countries. Thomas Cook ceased its Australian operations earlier this year.
It currently has 600,000 people abroad, forcing governments and insurance companies to coordinate a huge rescue operation.
The UK's Civil Aviation Authority said on Monday Thomas Cook had now ceased trading and it would work with the government to bring the more than 150,000 British customers home over the next two weeks.
In a statement on its homepage, Thomas Cook said "all the companies in its group have ceased trading, including Thomas Cook Airlines".
"As a result, we are sorry to inform you that all holidays and flights provided by these companies have been cancelled and are no longer operating. All Thomas Cook's retail shops have also closed," it said.
"The Government and the Civil Aviation Authority are now working together to do everything we can to support passengers due to fly back to the UK with Thomas Cook between 23 September 2019 and 6 October 2019. Depending on your location, this will be either on CAA-operated flights or by using existing flights with other airlines."
The Financial Times reported earlier this week the firm had approached the UK government for a bailout "in a last-ditch attempt to save itself from collapse" after lenders threatened to abandon a proposed rescue deal.
The BBC said Thomas Cook was trying to secure an extra 200 million pounds ($A369 million).
"Banks, including RBS and Lloyds, insist the firm comes up with the new contingency funds in case it needs extra money during the winter months," the broadcaster said on Saturday.
Reuters
