<p>The Chinese-owned Thomas Cook brand relaunched Wednesday as an online travel agency following the British group's collapse last year.</p>.<p>"The new 'Covid-ready' travel company will initially sell holidays to destinations on the government's safe travel corridor list," said Thomas Cook, which is owned by Fosun Tourism Group.</p>.<p>"Thomas Cook has a proud heritage and after acquiring the brand last year we wanted to quickly return it to its home in the UK," said Fosun's chairman and chief executive, Jim Qian.</p>.<p>"Supporting the growth of the brand in China and its relaunch in the UK is a big step in our plan to turn Thomas Cook into a global success story and a key milestone in the development of the Fosun Tourism Group's strategy," he said.</p>.<p>Fosun, which also owns France-based resort giant Club Med, acquired the brand and online assets of Thomas Cook in November.</p>.<p>Thomas Cook's demise one year ago sparked 22,000 job losses worldwide and triggered Britain's biggest repatriation since World War II, with the government paying to fly home 140,000 stranded tourists.</p>.<p>The 178-year-old British company had declared bankruptcy after an attempt to secure $250 million from private investors fell through.</p>.<p>Thomas Cook's stores across the UK had struggled against fierce online competition, while the company had blamed Brexit uncertainty for a drop in bookings before its collapse.</p>
<p>The Chinese-owned Thomas Cook brand relaunched Wednesday as an online travel agency following the British group's collapse last year.</p>.<p>"The new 'Covid-ready' travel company will initially sell holidays to destinations on the government's safe travel corridor list," said Thomas Cook, which is owned by Fosun Tourism Group.</p>.<p>"Thomas Cook has a proud heritage and after acquiring the brand last year we wanted to quickly return it to its home in the UK," said Fosun's chairman and chief executive, Jim Qian.</p>.<p>"Supporting the growth of the brand in China and its relaunch in the UK is a big step in our plan to turn Thomas Cook into a global success story and a key milestone in the development of the Fosun Tourism Group's strategy," he said.</p>.<p>Fosun, which also owns France-based resort giant Club Med, acquired the brand and online assets of Thomas Cook in November.</p>.<p>Thomas Cook's demise one year ago sparked 22,000 job losses worldwide and triggered Britain's biggest repatriation since World War II, with the government paying to fly home 140,000 stranded tourists.</p>.<p>The 178-year-old British company had declared bankruptcy after an attempt to secure $250 million from private investors fell through.</p>.<p>Thomas Cook's stores across the UK had struggled against fierce online competition, while the company had blamed Brexit uncertainty for a drop in bookings before its collapse.</p>