Year-over-Year Increase in Passenger Trips Driven by U.S. Domestic Travel

ARLINGTON, VA – November 16, 2023 – Today, Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC) released data showing total U.S. travel agency air ticket sales reached $7.2 billion in October — a 2% decrease from October 2022.* Total passenger trips increased 4% over the same period to 21.7 million with a 5% increase in U.S. domestic air travel.

Results for October 2023 showed:

“October’s air travel data looked similar to 2022 with a slight decrease in sales and passenger trips from the prior month,” said Steve Solomon, chief commercial officer at ARC. “Despite month-over-month declines, the growth in passenger trips compared to last October reflects sustained demand for domestic and international travel.”

October’s ancillary sales increased 26% year over year from $16.7 million to $21.1 million, while ancillary transactions increased 28% to 364,678 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 October 31, 2023, from 10,480 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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