First-Quarter 2026 U.S. Air Ticket Sales Exceed $30 Billion, Up 11% Year Over Year :: Hospitality Trends

March 2026 Air Ticket Sales and Passenger Trends

U.S.-based travel agencies reported air ticket sales totaling $10.4 billion in March 2026, according to ARC. This figure represents a 12% increase compared to March 2025. The number of passenger trips settled by ARC also rose, reaching 28.1 million in March 2026, a 4% year-over-year increase.

Month-over-month, total sales grew by 9%, and total passenger trips increased by 8%. U.S. domestic trips accounted for 17.7 million of the total, a 10% increase from the previous month and a 5% increase from March 2025. International trips reached 10.4 million, up 5% month-over-month and 1% year-over-year.

First-Quarter 2026 Results

For the first quarter of 2026, U.S. travel agency air ticket sales totaled $30.1 billion. This represents an 11% increase compared to the first quarter of 2025. The total number of passenger trips for the quarter was 82.3 million, a 6% increase from the same period in the previous year.

Ticket Price Analysis

The average ticket price in March 2026 was $623, which is a 4% increase from the prior month and a 16% increase year-over-year. The average economy class ticket price was $570, up 6% month-over-month and 21% year-over-year. The average premium class ticket price was $1,444, a 1% increase from the previous month and a 17% increase from March 2025.

Breakdown of Domestic and International Travel

Of the 28.1 million total passenger trips in March 2026, 17.7 million were U.S. domestic trips and 10.4 million were international trips. Domestic trips increased by 10% month-over-month and 5% year-over-year. International trips rose by 5% from the previous month and 1% from March 2025.

NDC Transactions and Agency Participation

NDC (New Distribution Capability) transactions accounted for 20.8% of total ARC-settled transactions in March 2026. This is an increase from 20.3% in March 2025. In March 2026, 1,197 travel agencies reported NDC transactions.

Ticket Sales    

• Results are based on monthly sales data ending March 31, 2026, from 9,892 U.S. retail and corporate travel agency locations 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 traveling 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.
  **Average Economy Class Ticket Price
• Economy Class is defined as tickets for U.S. domestic travel purchased in March 2026 under fare codes excluding First Class, Business Class and Business Class Premium.
  ***Average Premium Class Ticket Price
• Premium Class is defined as tickets for U.S. domestic travel purchased in March 2026 under fare codes assigned to First Class, Business Class and Business Class Premium.

All data is sourced from Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC).