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U.S. Travel Agencies Report $8.6 Billion in Air Ticket Sales in February 2025 – Image Credit Unsplash
Strong Ticket Sales Mark Second Straight Monthly Record
Today, Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC) released data showing U.S.-based travel agency air ticket sales totaled $8.3 billion in August 2025 — a 2% year-over-year increase and the highest monthly sales total for August ever recorded by ARC.* August passenger trips settled by ARC reached 24.6 million.
For the month, passenger trips issued through online travel agencies decreased 2% year over year, while those issued by leisure and corporate agencies decreased 3% and 6%, respectively, over the same period.
Results for August 2025 showed:
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ARC Ticketing Metric
|
Total
|
Month-Over-Month
|
Year-Over-Year
|
|
Total Sales
|
$8.3 billion
|
+2 %
|
+2 %
|
|
Total Passenger Trips
|
24.6 million
|
-1 %
|
+1 %
|
|
U.S. Domestic Trips
|
15.7 million
|
-2 %
|
0 %
|
|
International Trips
|
8.9 million
|
+1 %
|
+3 %
|
|
Average Ticket Price
|
$532
|
+1 %
|
+3 %
|
|
Average Economy
|
$485
|
+1 %
|
+4 %
|
|
Average Premium
|
$1,309
|
+4 %
|
+7 %
|
“Air travel demand in August highlighted momentum seen throughout the summer as ARC-settled passenger trips were above 2024 levels in June, July and August,” said Steve Solomon, chief commercial officer at ARC. “This data reflects recent reports from multiple airlines of strong demand and encouraging outlooks.”
NDC transactions accounted for 20.8% of the total ARC-settled transactions in August 2025 — up from 18.8% in August 2024. In August 2025, a total of 1,093 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 August 31, 2025, from 10,061 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 August 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 August 2025 under fare codes assigned to First Class, Business Class and Business Class Premium.
