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Liquidators to sell Thomas Cook's stake in air traffic control

Pippa Jacks
30 December 2021

The failed Thomas Cook Group’s stake in The Airline Group - which owns 42% of National Air Traffic Services (Nats) - is set to be sold, according to Sky News. 

The collapse of Thomas Cook Group in September 2019 severely dented the Air Travel Trust, or ‘Atol’, fund (Credit: Ronnie Macdonald)

The broadcaster reports that liquidators AlixPartners have begun a process to find a buyer for Thomas Cook’s 1.17% stake in The Airline Group.

Sky News said: "A sale of the bankrupt company’s stake is unlikely to fetch more than about £15m, according to industry observers, given Nats’ overall valuation and the small size of the shareholding."

British Airways, easyJet, Virgin Atlantic and Lufthansa are also members of The Airline Group. 

The government owns a 49% stake in Nats, with Nats staff and Heathrow Airport the other private sector shareholders.