Thomas Cook, one of the most iconic names in travel, is set to return to European ownership. The Polish eSky Group has signed an acquisition agreement with Chinese Fosun Tourism Group to take over the brand.

This move comes after Thomas Cook’s insolvency in 2019 and subsequent sale to Fosun. The acquisition is expected to drive significant growth for Thomas Cook and bolster eSky’s presence in Western Europe.

Acquisition by eSky Group

Thomas Cook, the world’s oldest travel brand, confirmed the acquisition by eSky Group. The Polish company is a leading travel platform in Central and Eastern Europe. It is now five years since Thomas Cook’s 2019 liquidation. The travel group fell into insolvency after the failure of a £1 billion bailout attempt. This led to a UK government-led repatriation of thousands of travelers stranded worldwide

Under the new agreement, Thomas Cook will gain access to eSky’s extensive flight inventory, supporting its continued expansion. This partnership will also pave the way for eSky to enter one of Western Europe’s most developed markets.

eSky Group has established itself as the dominant travel platform in the CEE region and has expanded globally. Operating in over 50 countries across Europe, the Americas, and Africa under the eSky and eDestinos brands, it has served more than 150 million customers.

The company offers access to over 550 airlines and 1.3 million hotels worldwide. In 2023, eSky Group’s profits exceeded €19 million, marking a 42% year-on-year increase and nearly tripling its 2019 figures.

Łukasz Habaj, CEO of eSky Group, stated, “Combining Thomas Cook’s brand heritage with our technology will fuel Thomas Cook’s growth and strengthen eSky’s position in Western Europe. This acquisition aligns with our strategy to diversify from flight sales to offering package holidays across our existing markets and expand further into Western Europe.”

Alan French, Thomas Cook Tourism’s CEO, added, “This transaction will inject significant funding into our business as we rebuild the brand and accelerate growth. By merging our dynamic packaging technology and holiday expertise with eSky’s flight inventory, performance marketing, and technical capabilities, we’re confident we’ll create a formidable European travel business.”

Since 2022, eSky has heavily invested in City Break and Holiday packages, transforming from a flight platform into a Virtual Tour Operator.

The eSky Group employs over 800 people, including an in-house development team of more than 190 professionals. The company is partially owned by the listed private equity fund MCI.

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