The UK's biggest tour operator TUI has axed hundreds of holidays to Turkey and other popular destinations because of ‘ongoing uncertainty’ over travel rules.
Trips have been cancelled until June 27 at the earliest with few countries expected to be added to the UK green list of quarantine-free destinations when it is next reviewed in the coming days.
Other countries affected by the change are Mexico, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Egypt, Cape Verde, Morocco, Tunisia and Bulgaria.
Turkey and Cape Verde are on the UK’s ‘red list’ where travel is subject to a hotel quarantine stay on return to the UK, while the others are on the ‘amber list’.
Portugal, including Madeira, Iceland and Gibraltar are the only easily-accessible green list choices.
TUI resumed flying to many destinations on May 17 - the earliest day travel could resume under the UK Government roadmap to recovery.
But the Foreign Office has advised against non-essential travel to all red and most amber list destinations, except the Canary Islands and some Greek islands.
However, TUI is continuing to travel to selected amber destinations subject to Foreign Office guidelines.
A TUI statement to Travel Weekly read: “We want to offer our customers flexibility and choice this summer, so where borders are open and FCDO advice allows travel, we will operate to those destinations as planned.
“We are constantly reviewing our holiday programme and cancellations in line with the government updates every three weeks, with the next update due in early June.
“Due to ongoing uncertainty, we have unfortunately had to cancel all holidays to the following Red and Amber destinations up to and including June 27: Mexico, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Turkey, Egypt, Cape Verde, Morocco, Tunisia and Bulgaria.
“All customers impacted by these cancellations will be contacted directly and will be able to request a full cash refund, or to change to a later date or alternative holiday and receive a booking incentive.”
