In Brief: U.S. travel agencies achieved their highest-ever six-month total for air ticket sales, indicating strong travel demand – $58.8B in the First Half Total Exceeds Previous High Set in 2023
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April U.S. Travel Agency Air Ticket Sales Surpass $10 Billion – Image Credit Unsplash
Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC) announced that U.S.-based travel agency air ticket sales totaled $58.8 billion from January through June 2026 — a 12% increase compared to the same period in 2025. Total passenger trips increased 4% over the same period, with U.S. domestic and international trips rising 4% and 3%, respectively.
Total results from the first half of 2026 showed:
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ARC Ticketing Metric
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Total
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Year-Over-Year Variance
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|
Total Sales
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$58.8 billion
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+12 %
|
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Total Passenger Trips
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158.5 million
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+4 %
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U.S. Domestic Trips
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98.9 million
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+4 %
|
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International Trips
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59.6 million
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+3 %
|
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Average Ticket Price
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$614
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+13 %
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“Growth in both domestic and international trips through the first six months of the year shows air travel is still a priority,” said Steve Solomon, ARC’s Chief Commercial Officer. “The record-breaking mid-year 2026 totals reflect continued strong demand, with travelers adjusting to higher ticket prices and planning trips.”
The month of June alone reflected a similar trend. June 2026 monthly travel agency air ticket sales totaled $9 billion — a 19% increase from June 2025.* Total passenger trips settled by ARC reached 24.2 million this June, increasing 4% from the year prior.
Results for June 2026 showed:
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ARC Ticketing Metric
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Total
|
Month-Over-Month Variance
|
Year-Over-Year Variance
|
|
Total Sales
|
$9 billion
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+6 %
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+19 %
|
|
Total Passenger Trips
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24.2 million
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-6 %
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+4 %
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|
U.S. Domestic Trips
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15.3 million
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-5 %
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+5 %
|
|
International Trips
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8.9 million
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-7 %
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+3 %
|
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Average Ticket Price
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$629
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+19 %
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+17 %
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Average Economy Class Ticket Price**
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$573
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+1 %
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+16 %
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Average Premium Class Ticket Price***
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$1,423
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0 %
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+13 %
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NDC transactions remained steady at 21.6% of all ARC-settled transactions in June 2026. A total of 1,190 travel agencies reported NDC activity during the month.
More detailed information is available on ARC’s sales statistics page.
*Ticket Sales
- Results are based on monthly sales data ending June 30, 2026, from 9,873 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 June 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 June 2026 under fare codes assigned to First Class, Business Class and Business Class Premium.
