The chief executive came under fire from the union which represents some of the 9,000 British staff who lost their jobs. In his first interview since Thomas Cook’s demise, Mr Fankhauser said he was “heartbroken” and “deeply sorry” about the crash which left 150,000 British holidaymakers stranded. The 58-year-old Swiss national also protested that he only received half the £8.3million salary he was due because the rest was paid in now-worthless Thomas Cook shares. 

But Manuel Cortes, general secretary of transport union TSSA, said: “The facts speak far louder than Fankhauser’s weak pathetic denials. 

“The truth is he is the fat cat who oversaw the collapse of a company that had been with us for almost 200 years. 

“He may claim he’s not a fat cat but that simply does not stand up to scrutiny. Unlike employees he walks away having been paid millions of pounds. 

“It’s our members who are paying the price for his greed and inability to properly run Thomas Cook. 

“Fankhauser has the cheek to say he is heartbroken about the collapse of Thomas Cook, but not half as heartbroken as our members who have lost their jobs because of his mismanagement.” 

Mr Fankhauser yesterday defended his performance since joining the company as chief executive five years ago. 

He claimed the 178-year-old package holiday specialist was brought down by debt – said to be about £1.6billion – accumulated before he arrived. 

“I don’t think that I’m the fat cat that I’m being described as,” he said. 

“I tried my absolute best to save the company. But the truth is I didn’t pull it over the line. 

“And I understand all the anger, all the disappointment of my colleagues. I understand all that. But I gave everything not to be in this situation.” 

Describing himself as “desperate” and “deeply sorry”, he added: “It was not my intention that we would land where we are. 

“I worked extremely hard. Of course, it did not work out, but that has nothing to do with the fact that I was lazy or something” 

The company went into administration last week after the directors tried in vain to persuade the Government to intervene on its behalf. 

They needed to raise a £200million payment for the banks financing a rescue deal led by its major shareholder Fosun. 

Since then, 92,700 tourists have been flown home from 53 airports in 18 countries in a rescue mission led by the Civil Aviation Authority. Operation Matterhorn – the biggest peace time repatriation operation – aims to bring all 150,000 stranded Britons home by the end of this week. 

More than 1,000 Thomas Cook staff plan to take legal action after losing their jobs at short notice and missing out on pay. 

The TSSA has written to the Parliamentary committee investigating the company’s collapse and demanded that the bosses as be brought to account. 

Mr Cortes added: “If he is sincerely sorry for what has happened while he was at the helm then he will have no problem appearing in front of the Parliamentary inquiry.” 

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A furious Thomas Cook employee is walking 200 miles to Parliament in full uniform to demand answers from the company. 

Cabin manager Rachel Murrell is one of 9,000 members of staff left high and dry when the travel firm folded a week ago. None of her colleagues know when they are going to be paid. 

In protest, Rachel set off from her home in Kingsteington, Devon, with her dog Pip on Friday. 

Rachel, who has worked for Thomas Cook for 20 years, said: “I’m fuming, it’s absolutely ridiculous and I feel disgusted by the way we’ve been treated. We need answers. I’m terrified about the walk but want to stand up to this injustice and make my daughter proud of me. I thought, ‘Do I sit and get angry or do I do something about it?’” 

Follow Rachel’s progress at www.gofundme.com/f/walking-for-answers 

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