Touching on Brexit during Cook’s Q3 financial results call, group chief executive Peter Fankhauser said "a lot has been said in recent weeks and there’s clearly a long way to go".

Fankhauser urged politicians both in Westminster and Brussels to “come to a long-term settlement”.

“But let me just make one plea: a plea for common sense, that politicians both sides of the Channel agree now to extend the existing agreements for air traffic rights beyond 2019 – for as long as it takes to come to a long-term settlement. That has to be in everyone’s best interests,” he told reporters.

Meanwhile, while commenting on the rise in fraudulent holiday sickness claims, Fankhauser said Cook had been focused on making sure customers knew the legal risks of lodging a fake claim.

"We are informing customers [on the issue]. It’s a really tiny minority which gives us a problem," he said.

"Our priority is giving our customers the best holidays and informing them about the consequences [if they make a bogus claim]."

He added that "it doesn’t feel comfortable challenging customers", but maintained that "we have to send a clear message that it [lodging a fraudulent claim] is a crime".