ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC) announced today that the consolidated dollar value of airline tickets sold by U.S.-based travel agencies increased nearly 9 percent in August as compared to August 2017, totaling $8 billion vs. $7.4 billion.* The average U.S. roundtrip ticket price for August 2018 was $485, up $28 from the same time in 2017.
The total number of passenger trips settled by ARC for U.S. travel agencies increased 1 percent to 24,944,240 compared to 24,703,640 in August 2017. U.S. domestic trips decreased approximately 1 percent while international passenger trips increased nearly 6 percent.
Electronic Miscellaneous Document (EMD)** sales in August 2018 comprised $6.4 million, a 6 percent increase compared to August 2017. EMD transactions increased 11 percent to 113,509 in August 2018 vs. 102,462 in August 2017.
More detailed information is available on ARC’s website.
About ARC:
An industry leader in air travel distribution and intelligence, ARC settled $88.5 billion in ticket transactions in 2017 between airlines and travel agencies, representing more than 287 million passenger trips. ARC provides flexible distribution solutions, innovative technology and access to the world’s most comprehensive air ticket transaction data, helping the global air travel community connect, grow and thrive. For more information, please visit www.arccorp.com.
Notes for Editors:
*Ticket Sales
- Results are based on monthly sales data ending August 31, 2018, from 12,259 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 roundtrip 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.
©2018 Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC). All rights reserved.
