Strong International Travel Demand Helped Elevate Sales Above Year-Over-Year Levels

ARLINGTON, Va. – December 19, 2023 – Today, Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC) released data showing U.S. travel agency air ticket sales totaled $6.8 billion in November — a 3.4% increase from November 2022.

Results for November 2023 showed:

“U.S. consumers continue to spend on international air travel. Our data reflects a slight increase in international passenger trips from October to November, which is uncommon for the time of year,” said Steve Solomon, chief commercial officer at ARC. “Despite seeing the typical declines in month-over-month air travel sales and passenger trips, airlines reported a record number of travelers during the Thanksgiving holiday season.”

November’s ancillary sales increased 43% year over year to $22.5 million, while ancillary transactions increased 47% to 379,644 over the same period.**

More detailed information is available on ARC’s sales statistics page.

Notes:

*Ticket Sales

• Results are based on monthly sales data ending November 30, 2023, from 10,439 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.
• 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 taking a trip 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.

**Ancillary sales

• Includes fees for products and services such as upgraded seats, checked bags, an unaccompanied minor, pet-in-cabin, etc.

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