However, experts said these are still not flexible enough and travellers need, and will pay for, more. Emma Coulthurst of holiday price comparison site Travelsupermarket said no-change fee are useful but often do not allow travellers to amend bookings if Government advice changes with less than 48 hours notice.
In such cases, customers have little choice but to forgo their booking and money if they cannot travel.
She said: “If it’s a choice between a flexible airline and an inflexible one, travellers will pay a more for that reassurance that you will be able to rebook your flight without being charged.”
Martyn James of Resolver, a consumer complaints service, said airlines were “caught like a rabbit in headlights” over the future and were only thinking about the present.
He said: “This surprises me as the industry has turned anticipating consumer demand in to an art form given their algorithms and dynamic pricing.”
Mr James said unless travel firms adapt and offer holidaymakers what they want, there could end up being a “secondary holiday resale market” where those who can no longer travel sell their ticket on.
Skyscanner’s report also said customers would be willing to fork out more for “rock solid” travel insurance. This comes as the pandemic caused several high profile brands to stop selling travel cover and found loopholes in policies to avoid paying out for cancelled trips.
To counter this, some airlines have stepped in to provide insurance to passengers and promote flying. Emirates announced in July it would offer all of its passengers a free Covid-19 insurance policy that covered medical expenses up to £135,000 and quarantine costs of £90 a day for up to 14 days.
Virgin Atlantic has introduced cover for any flight or holiday booked using its airline, for travel between August 24 and March 31 2021. It will cover up to £500,000 on necessary and emergency medical expenses and pay for repatriation if the customer is denied boarding or asked to quarantine.
While changing customer demands could see to changes in way airline tickets are priced, daring travellers right now can pick up bargains.
Airlines have priced record low fares this winter with prices to sunny destinations dowb 92pc compared with pre-pandemic levels. This is likely to continue for some time but they will not stay low forever, Mr Aitken said. Prices starting at £14 for destinations in Europe.