Analysis from payment provider BR-DGE revealed UK online search volumes for travel refunds increased by 17.9% in the seven days to Friday 21 July.
The data found 7 June to have been the busiest day last month for UK consumers searching for travel refunds from airlines and travel agents.
Online searches for refunds among the five largest travel sellers and airlines, however, were down 44.1% year-on-year during June 2023, with easyJet seeing the largest fall.
BR-DGE senior travel specialist Emily Whalley said the situation for airlines and travel agents right now was one of "two stories"
"On the one hand, travel demand is exceeding expectations and supply as consumer demand for holiday breaks and short getaways remains elevated," said Whalley.
"On the flip side, the industry faces a number of obstacles ahead with a summer of strike action increasing the likelihood of holiday goers experiencing cancellations, delays, and disruption."
Industry on notice
Whalley continued: "Severe travel disruption across Europe, as seen most recently from the recent heatwave and wildfires, will no doubt lead to high volumes of refund and delay repayment requests this summer period.
"While our analysis positively shows that searches for refunds among UK consumers have nearly halved since last year when airports faced staff shortages, the industry cannot rest on its laurels when it comes to refunds."
