The Nordic branch of Thomas Cook Airlines and its inflight Airshoppen Travel Retail business will keep trading following the compulsory liquidation of Thomas Cook UK Plc and its associated UK entities on Monday (23 September).

It is gathered that Thomas Cook’s travel company Ving Sverige AB (Ving Group) in Norway and Sweden and Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia, together with tour group entities Spies Rejser, Globetrotter and Tjäreborg Rejser are not linked directly to the insolvency.

As such the tour operators, airline – having initially suspended its flights – and Thomas Cook’s Airshoppen Travel Retail unit are ‘back in business’, a Thomas Cook source told TRBusiness.

They said: “A solution has been found so that the Nordic business – which was always profitable – has been given a chance to survive.

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“We are obviously very sad for our colleagues that all of Thomas Cook’s activities in the UK have been closed down.”

Inflight retail activities at Airshoppen Travel Retail, which has historically provided a strong duty free, tax free, F&B and pre-order sales service, have resumed after personnel were given the go-ahead on Monday (23 September).

This came shortly before press reports emerged that Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia and its partners were cleared to continue operating.

Energies are being focused on stabilising and servicing the existing business and its customers over the coming weeks, including German-based Condor Airlines, Atlantic Airways and Novair (Apollo).

“We in travel retail are back on our feet – supporting all Vings departures with duty free, snacks and drinks, the same goes for Condor, Atlantic Airways and Novair (Apollo),” added the source.

In a statement online, Ving Group dubs Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia as ‘one of the most profitable companies in the Nordic countries’.

Ving Group says it is not linked to Thomas Cook Plc’s bankruptcy and as such will continue operating as an independent company.

“The tour operators and Airshoppen Travel Retail will continue to operate with current trading names,” added the source.

However, it is unclear at this stage what name or livery the airline will operate under in the future when TRBusiness enquired.

Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia is headquartered in Copenhagen and works closely with Thomas Cook Northern Europe and its travel agents.