A THOMAS COOK head honcho was lambasted yesterday for “sneering” claims of planning a holiday while the company faced destruction.

TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes, whose union represented workers at the fallen holiday firm’s offices, criticised the remarks made by the company’s chairman Frank Meysman.

Mr Meysman admitted he spent the aftermath of the company’s collapse resting in his garden and planning a holiday to Kazan in Russia.

He also said he did not consider himself a “typical” Thomas Cook customer and preferred to use the accommodation phone app Airbnb than his own company’s hotels.

Despite chairing Thomas Cook since 2011, Mr Meysman said he felt no personal responsibility for its collapse, which cost 9,000 jobs and led to the biggest government civilian repatriation effort since World War II.

Mr Cortes said: “This rubs salt in the wound of both our members and holidaymakers who are suffering because of Meysman’s incompetence.

“But what really takes the biscuit is Meysman’s sneering arrogance when he boasts that he’s ‘not a typical Thomas Cook customer’ — and prefers to use Airbnb.

“He was happy enough to take money from Thomas Cook customers — he was paid £307,000 last year by the company.

“But he thinks he’s a cut above them when it comes to planning his holidays.

“It’s clear that he didn’t care for his company or their products.”

Labour MP Rachel Reeves, who chaired the House of Commons business select committee’s investigation into the collapse of Thomas Cook, said Mr Meysman showed “very little remorse” for his workers, and urged him to “show humility.”