The liquidator revealed several companies in the Thomas Cook group “could have sufficient funds available” to make payments to customers who lost money after it collapsed.

A Thomas Cook claims site was launched in November 2021 and Official Receiver, David Chapman, said: “While we have received many claims already, we believe that there are potentially thousands more customers and creditors who are owed money by Thomas Cook but have not submitted their claims.

“That is why we are urging customers and suppliers to use the online portal to quickly, easily and securely lodge their claims for monies owed to them.”

Claims in the liquidation could include:

• gift vouchers bought or provided by Thomas Cook with unredeemed balances
• disrupted flights (including EU261 claims)
• packaged holidays and other holiday elements impacted by cancellation
• personal injuries
• sports tickets bought from Thomas Cook
• goods or services provided to Thomas Cook.

However, the liquidator said customers may not necessarily receive the full amount back.

What happened with Thomas Cook?

In May 2019, Thomas Cook reported a pre-tax loss of £1.5bn before it entered rescue talks with its largest shareholder, Chinese investor Fosun Tourism.

In August, the tour operator confirmed a £900m deal with the Chinese conglomerate. However, by September 2019, the 178-year-old travel company was on the brink of collapse as it sought a further £200m.

Just days later, it entered liquidation, leaving 150,00 UK holidaymakers stranded abroad.

Refund forms were made available in October 2019, a couple of days before it was confirmed that Hays Travel would buy 555 Thomas Cook stores.

In December 2019, the Thomas Cook refund scheme had paid out £290m in refunds and in February 2020, the Thomas Cook prepaid currency card was axed.

But in September 2020, the owners of the collapsed travel agent were rumoured to re-launch online before it offered holidays to quarantine-free destinations and committed to paying refunds for cancelled holidays within 14 days.