US Travel Agencies Start 2020 with $8.9 Billion in Air Ticket Sales

January’s YOY Increase is 2.6% as Passenger Trips Rise 2.4%

ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC) reported today that ARC-accredited travel agencies began the new year with a $228 million year-over-year increase in air ticket sales. The consolidated dollar value of tickets sold by agencies last month totaled $8.9 billion, a 2.6% increase when compared to January 2019.^*

The total number of passenger trips settled by ARC for its agency customers increased 2.4% to 28,349,928 compared to 27,686,121 in January 2019. U.S. domestic trips increased by 3.6% while international passenger trips were up 0.4%. The average U.S. round-trip ticket price last month was $478, a $2 increase over January 2019.

Electronic Miscellaneous Document (EMD)^** sales in January rose 24% to $8.6 million YOY. EMD transaction volume also increased by 41.5% over 2019, totaling 148 million.

More detailed information is available on ARC’s website.

About ARC:

As a leader in air travel intelligence and omnichannel retailing, ARC provides platforms, tools and insights that help the global travel community connect, grow and thrive. ARC enables the diverse retailing strategies of its customers by providing innovative technology, flexible settlement solutions and access to the world’s most comprehensive air transaction dataset. In 2019, ARC managed more than $97.4 billion in transactions between airlines and travel agencies, representing more than 302 million passenger trips. For more information, please visit arccorp.com.

Notes for Editors:

*Ticket Sales

• Results are based on monthly sales data ending January 31, 2020, from 11,812 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.
• Average ticket price (in USD) 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 either 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 of 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.

**Electronic Miscellaneous Documents (EMD)

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

©2020 Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC). All rights reserved.