Skiers are waiting until the last minute to book holidays this season to ensure snow coverage, as the Alps struggles to maintain winter conditions.

Online searches for the main airports serving Europe’s most popular ski resorts, such as Geneva, Lyon and Innsbruck, are down as much as a fifth on last year, according to cheapflights.co.uk.

However, there have been spikes in traffic for those looking for flights only a week or two before departure, suggesting skiers and snowboarders are waiting to follow the snow.

The Alps is seeing a second poor start to the season in two years, with usually snow-sure resorts currently offering more green than white. Indeed, Switzerland has experienced its warmest December in 150 years, when records began.

A number of popular resorts are only offering a handful of open lifts. La Grave, a resort synonymous with off-piste powder, is currently only open for pedestrians, while the huge Portes du Soleil ski area, which includes Morzine and Les Gets, has only 85 of 197 lifts open. Les Arcs, France, only has 51 of its 109 pistes open, while Alpe d'Huez has just 38 of 135 pistes open.

In the Trois Vallées ski area, one of the most popular destinations for Britons, André Plaisance, the mayor of Saint-Martin-de-Belleville appealed to locals to leave what little snow there was to paying tourists.

There may not be much snow in the Alps this winter but they still look stunning from here! #Principia pic.twitter.com/zdtyv3iYHS — Tim Peake (@astro_timpeake) December 29, 2015

La Plagne, which has less than half of its 128 pistes open, is being forced to reconsider its role as host to a series of World Cup Ski Cross races in mid-January due to lack of snow.

Analysis from the flights comparison website found that searches for Geneva, less than 90 minutes from the likes of Geneva, Flaine and Morzine, were down 19.6 per cent, while even those interested in the smaller ski domains of Andorra were down 5.2 per cent.

Short-term flights searches are up across the board, on average 8.9 per cent.

The website has also seen the repeat of a shift recognised last season where skiers headed instead to resorts in North America, where snow is all but guaranteed – searches for airports serving the main American and Canadian resorts are up on last year.

Alpe d'Huez a fornight ago Photo: Getty

The trend is likely the result of unreliable conditions both this year and last across the Alps. Many resorts this December have not seen snow since the beginning of the month.

Tim Latimer, director of luxury chalet specialist, the Firefly Collection, said this and last year's poor December has created a booking "fear factor".

"Although the snow is not great right now in some resorts, the perceived situation is worse, and that’s what counts when it comes to booking," he said.

He said Firefly had seen guests searching only for higher resorts, such as Zermatt, Courchevel 1850 and Val d'Isere, or leaving it to the last minute.

Love the Gran Pré run in #valdisere on a nice sunny day #skiing pic.twitter.com/qurfCtyhWQ — Scott Dunn Reporter (@SD_SkiReporter) December 29, 2015

"Unfortunately this seems to be a growing trend, and sadly the current lack of snow is only reinforcing the situation," he said.

"As a result there were quite a few unsold luxury chalets for the Christmas week across the Alps, meaning there were some fantastic discounted rates to be had for those willing to book last minute.”

The weather is, however, looking up, and respite may be on the horizon, with a cold front approaching the region, and with it hopes of fresh snow.

Craig Burton of tour operator Ski Solutions said: "Powder snow is forecast in the next seven days across Europe and we even expect some resorts to be up and running for New Year's Day.

Is there finally some snow in the forecast for the Alps? https://t.co/5TV3WwIMjS pic.twitter.com/MSndymReb9 — FATMAP (@fatmapski) December 30, 2015

"This isn't dissimilar to last year where we saw a late dump - and actually had customers stranded out in resort after New Year."

A smattering of snow is expected in the Alps, followed by heavier snowfall next week.