Major UK tour operators, including Thomas Cook, Virgin Holidays and Kuoni have temporarily suspended all holiday flights and vacation packages to Mexico following a statement last night from the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office

(FCO) advising against all non-essential travel to the country. Operators have been obliged to make these cancellations since the (FCO) order invalidates the personal insurance of most travellers once it is in place.

Thomas Cook reports that it has cancelled six Thomas Cook and Airtours flights to Cancun as a precaution over the next week, while TUI Travel's UK and German arms has also cancelled several flights until it reviews the situation again on May 8. These include 14 operated by its subsidiaries Thomson and First Choice.

In a statement on its website today, Thomas Cook said: ‘Following the change in travel advice late last night (Monday 27 April 2009) by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office advising against all but essential travel to Mexico, we can confirm that Thomas Cook UK has made the decision to cancel holidays departing to Cancun, Mexico for the next seven days, up to and including 5 May 2009.

‘Whilst we understand holidaymakers due to travel may be disappointed, we hope that they appreciate the steps that we have taken which are in line with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office advice. We will do all we can to provide alternative holidays to those customers affected by this decision.’

It was also a similar story at Virgin Holidays this morning, where the company said: ‘Following the change to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice against all but non-essential travel to Mexico, it's with regret that Virgin Holidays have taken the decision to discontinue travel up to and including the 5th May.

‘We're currently calling our customers due to travel up to and including the 5th May to update them of the situation. Customers travelling within these dates will have the option to amend their holiday to another destination or alternative date, subject to availability and revised holiday price or to cancel with a full refund.’

Kuoni echoed the same theme: ‘In line with this advice, Kuoni will be contacting all clients due to travel to Mexico up to and including 3rd May to pass on details of the updated Foreign Office advice and to advise that Kuoni holidays to Mexico have been suspended at this time. Clients wishing to amend their booking may do so without amendment fee or alternatively may cancel and receive a full refund of all monies paid.’

In total, approximately 7,000 UK holidaymakers are reported to have had their holidays cancelled so far, although British Airways is continuing to fly, leaving the decision up to travellers.