UK plans to fly 135,300 people back after Thomas Cook collapse

The UK government is working towards flying home around 135,000 stranded travellers following the collapse of Thomas Cook.

Officials said 74 flights were scheduled on Tuesday, to bring back 16,500 people, with more than 1,000 flights planned over the next 13 days.

"We are working around the clock, in conjunction with the government and the aviation industry, to deliver the flying programme after Thomas Cook ceased trading," Britain's aviation regulator said.

This comes a day after 64 emergency flights brought 14,700 people back to the UK.

The collapse of Thomas Cook in the early hours of Monday left hundreds of thousands of people stranded at holiday destinations around the world.

"A repatriation of this scale and nature is unprecedented and unfortunately there will be some inconvenience and disruption for customers. We will do everything we can to minimise this as the operation continues," Richard Moriarty, Chief Executive at the Civil Aviation Authority, said.