• March U.S. Travel Agencies Air Ticket Sales Top $9 Billion   


First Quarter Total Sales and Passengers Trips Increased Year Over Year

Today, Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC) released data showing March air ticket sales totaled $9.4 billion for U.S. travel agencies — a 3% decrease from March 2023. For the first quarter of 2024, total sales and passenger trips were higher than the first quarter of 2023 by 3% and 5%, respectively.

Results for March 2024 showed:

ARC Ticketing Metric

Total

Month-Over-

Month Variance

Year-Over-Year

Variance

Total Sales

$9.4 billion

+5 %

-3 %

Total Passenger Trips

25.6 million

+5 %

-1 %

U.S. Domestic Trips

15.8 million

+5 %

+1 %

International Trips

9.8 million

+5 %

-4 %

Average Ticket Price

$571

0 %

+2 %

"Despite March's slight decrease in year-over-year sales totals, airlines and U.S. travel agencies experienced a positive first quarter in 2024," said Steve Solomon, chief commercial officer at ARC. "U.S. domestic travel demand powered much of this growth. With the summer travel season nearing, the strong dollar is helping drive demand to international destinations by U.S.-based travelers."

March ancillary sales increased 21% year over year to $32 million, while ancillary transactions increased 43% to 534,211 over the same period.** 

More detailed information is available on ARC's sales statistics page.

*Ticket Sales

  • Results are based on monthly sales data ending March 31, 2024, from 10,325 U.S. retail and corporate travel agency locations, satellite ticket printing offices and online travel agencies. Results do not include sales of tickets purchased directly from airlines.
  • The average ticket price (USD) is for a round-trip ticket settled through ARC for an itinerary that included only U.S. domestic travel.
  • Passenger trips include the total number of passengers taking a trip from one airport to another using direct or connecting flights. Newly issued trips are added, and refunded trips are deducted to provide a net view of traveling passengers.
  • U.S. domestic passenger trips include the total number settled through ARC where the itinerary is wholly within the U.S. International passenger trips include the total number settled through ARC where some or all the travel occurs to airports outside the U.S. or originates outside the U.S.
  • Total sales are equal to the total amount paid for a ticket, which includes taxes and fees.

**Ancillary sales

  • Includes fees for products and services such as upgraded seats, checked bags, an unaccompanied minor, pet-in-cabin, etc.