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October U.S. Travel Agency Air Ticket Sales Climb to $8.6 Billion – Image Credit Unsplash
October U.S. travel agency air ticket sales reached a record $8.6 billion despite economic volatility and a government shutdown.
Today, Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC) released data showing U.S.-based travel agency air ticket sales totaled $8.6 billion in October 2025 — a 6% year-over-year increase and the highest October monthly sales total recorded by ARC.* These results mark the fourth-straight month of record monthly sales.
Passenger trips issued through online travel agencies in October decreased 1% year over year, while passenger trips issued through leisure agencies increased 4%. Passenger trips issued through corporate travel agencies decreased 5% over the same period.
Results for October 2025 showed:
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ARC Ticketing Metric
|
Total
|
Month-Over-Month
|
Year-Over-Year
|
|
Total Sales
|
$8.6 billion
|
-1 %
|
+6 %
|
|
Total Passenger Trips
|
24.6 million
|
-3 %
|
+4 %
|
|
U.S. Domestic Trips
|
15.7 million
|
-4 %
|
+2 %
|
|
International Trips
|
8.9 million
|
-1 %
|
+8 %
|
|
Average Ticket Price
|
$576
|
+3 %
|
+3 %
|
|
Average Economy Class Ticket Price**
|
$513
|
+2 %
|
-2 %
|
|
Average Premium Class Ticket Price***
|
$1,404
|
+3 %
|
+8 %
|
“Uncertainty caused by the U.S. government shutdown may have had a short-term negative effect on corporate and government air travel in October, but overall, U.S. air travel had another positive month,” said Steve Solomon, chief commercial officer at ARC. “Robust international travel and steady domestic demand are driving ticket volumes above 2024 levels.”
NDC transactions accounted for 20.6% of the total ARC-settled transactions in October 2025 — up from 19.1% in October 2024. In October 2025, a total of 1,144 travel agencies reported NDC transactions.
More detailed information is available on ARC’s sales statistics page.
*Ticket Sales
- Results are based on monthly sales data ending October 31, 2025, from 10,051 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 October 2025 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 October 2025 under fare codes assigned to First Class, Business Class and Business Class Premium.
