Polish travel company Grupa eSky has announced its acquisition of Thomas Cook, the world's oldest travel brand, marking a significant milestone in the 180-year history of the British travel icon. This strategic move will allow eSky to enhance its presence in the United Kingdom and Western Europe.

eSky will acquire Thomas Cook from Chinese group Fosun for a total of £30m (€35.6m). Thomas Cook, a travel company founded in the UK in 1841, went bust in 2019 after failing to clear a debt burden of £1.1bn.

The acquisition aims to leverage Thomas Cook's extensive experience to support its growth in existing markets. eSky's platform operates in over 50 countries across Europe, the Americas, and Africa, and has been rapidly expanding its dynamic package offerings, which provide integrated flight and accommodation options.

Łukasz Habaj, CEO of Grupa eSky, said: "The synergy between Thomas Cook's nearly two-century heritage and eSky's technology and understanding of contemporary consumer needs will strengthen our position in Western Europe and enhance the flexibility of our offerings. This acquisition will propel us into the forefront of dynamic package sales in the UK, representing a significant promotion of Polish business on the international stage."

The decision to acquire Thomas Cook aligns with eSky's broader strategy of investing in dynamic packages over the past few years. These packages offer a viable alternative to traditional tour operators and qualify as organised trips under legal regulations, providing consumer protection. As a result, eSky is transitioning from being primarily an airline platform to a Virtual Travel Orchestrator.

Founded in 1841, Thomas Cook briefly ceased operations in 2019 but re-emerged as an online travel agency under China’s Fosun Tourism Group. This acquisition provides eSky access to Thomas Cook's portfolio, which includes over 500 airlines, enhancing its competitive edge in the travel market.

The acquisition agreement excludes Thomas Cook's operations in China, and the transaction is subject to approval by the UK's Civil Aviation Authority. The financial details of the deal have not been disclosed.