Each month, the UK's largest tour operator and third largest airline seeks the views of more than 1,000 consumers to get an overview of the market.

Its most recent poll reveals the number of people choosing package holidays as their preferred method of booking has increased by five percentage points (ppts) since February to 51%, with value (36%) and ease (36%) being the main drivers for this shift.

However, Jet2 also highlighted how the added security of booking with one single provider offering Atol and Abta protection has jumped by four ppts over the same period.

Jet2 Chief Executive Steve Heapy said: “Consumers want assurance during times of uncertainty, and package holidays provide that assurance."

The trend comes as the travel industry seeks to reassure consumers about the likelihood this summer of fuel shortages, cancellations and surcharges.

Neil Swanson, Tui UK and Ireland Managing Director, this week said the operator's "careful planning" would ensure no fuel surcharges are added by fares.

"The price customers see is the price they pay," he said. "And all Tui package holidays are Abta and Atol protected, giving peace of mind from booking right through to returning home."

Meanwhile, Abta Chief Executive Mark Tanzer pointed out that the UK government and airlines "are clear that there isn't a problem with fuel supply". British Airways parent IAG on Friday (8 May) said it saw the issue as being one of price rather than availability.

Addressing consumers directly, Tanzer said: "If you have a holiday booked in for the coming months – including the May half term – we expect it to go ahead as planned."

Tanzer confirmed less than 1% of commercial flights globally have been axed during the ongoing Iran war, while Holiday Extras urged holidaymakers not to panic before explaining how 13,000 cancelled flights in May is "normal".

David Norris, chief growth officer at Holiday Extras, said: "The vast majority of UK departures are operating exactly as planned."

The Department for Transport confirmed only 0.53% of planned UK flights were cancelled during the first week of May. The majority of these were scheduled to and from the Middle East, and have been cancelled due to the conflict.