All holidays scheduled to depart up to 4 November will go ahead as normal and package holidays departing from Scotland are also unaffected.

TUI added that customers with accommodation-only bookings can also still travel if they wish, or they can choose to amend their booking for free.

Marella Cruises will also postpone operations up to and including 16 December and the launch of the TUI River Cruise programme has also been pushed back, with three ships set to launch in March and April 2021.

What customers need to know and do

TUI said it will be proactively contacting all customers impacted by these changes over the coming days to discuss a range of options available to them.

These include amending for free with an additional booking incentive, receiving an ATOL-protected refund credit note with a booking incentive, or they can request a full cash refund.

It added that it will place Summer 2022 holidays on sale from today, giving customers more choice to amend bookings.

‘Another blow for the travel industry’

Andrew Flintham, managing director of TUI UK and Ireland, said: “The UK government’s latest decision to implement a second national lockdown is another blow for the travel industry, which has already been brought to its knees after almost eight months of continued uncertainty. However, public health must be the priority right now and we therefore cannot take customers on holiday from England and Wales from 5 November up until 2 December.

“We appreciate the government has recognised the toll these restrictions will have on the sector and its employees and we’re pleased that the furlough scheme has been extended throughout November. However, these new measures reiterate the vital importance of a move to airport testing to allow those who want to travel to do so safely.

“We will continue to monitor the government’s advice and review our holiday programme in line with this. We hope we can take our customers away to the sunshine soon so they can escape the long, cold winter nights.”