Year-Over-Year Passenger Trips Rose Despite Decline in Sales

ARLINGTON, Va. – May 15, 2025 – Today, Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC) released data showing U.S.-based travel agency air ticket sales reached $8.8 billion in April 2025 – a 4% decrease compared to April 2024.* April’s passenger trips settled by ARC increased 1% year over year, totaling 25.7 million.

Results for April 2025 showed:

Passenger trips issued through online travel agencies rose 6% year over year, while passenger trips for leisure and corporate travel decreased 4% and 6%, respectively, over the same period.

“Business travel contended with increased economic uncertainty and the Easter holiday falling in late April, which affected year-over-year corporate passenger trip comparisons,” said Steve Solomon, chief commercial officer at ARC. “Despite some macroeconomic headwinds, overall passenger trips for domestic and international travel remained above 2024 levels, showing the resilience of travel demand.”

NDC transactions accounted for 19.6% of the total ARC reported and settled transactions in April 2025 — a 2% increase from 19.3% in April 2024. In April 2025, a total of 905 travel agencies reported NDC transactions.

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

Notes:

*Ticket Sales

• Results are based on monthly sales data ending April 30, 2025, from 10,144 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 April 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 April 2025 under fare codes assigned to First Class, Business Class and Business Class Premium.