Search Travel Market Report

mainlogo
www.travelmarketreport.com
  • News
  • Tours & Packages
  • Cruise
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Destinations
  • Retail Strategies
  • Niche & Luxury
  • Well-Being Travel
  • Training & Events
  • Who We Are
    • Anne Marie Moebes
    • Brian Israel
    • Dan McCarthy
    • Denise Caiazzo
    • Marilee Crocker
    • Paul M. Ruden
    • Dori Saltzman
    • Kelly Fontenelle

Airlines Tickets Are Now 11% Higher Than They Were Pre-Pandemic

by Daniel McCarthy / April 22, 2022
Airfare Prices Airlines Ticket Prices Rising

Airfare prices are rising. Photo: ungvar / Shutterstock.com


Just like so many other things in the U.S., the price of travel is increasing.

The average U.S. round-trip air ticket price for March 2022 was $540, a 41% increase from $382 in March 2021 and an 11% increase from March 2019 when the average ticket was $487. That’s according to new data released from the Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC) this week.

According to ARC, the $540 price tag is the highest average ticket price since June 2015, when the average ticket price was $548. And even with the increases, consumers are still more than willing to spend in order to travel.

The total ticket sales by accredited travel agencies for March 2022 was $7.8 billion, a 180% increase from March 2021 and the first time sales have eclipsed $7 billion since February 2020.

That number was also up 45% just from February. ARC, in its release, said that the growth was fueled by almost every single segment, including domestic trips (up 25% month-over-month) and international trips (up 26% month-over-month).

“March’s sales were fueled by strong growth in corporate travel, which improved from 60% of pre-pandemic levels in the first week of March to 70% of pre-pandemic levels in the last week,” said Steve Solomon, vice president of global customers and data products at ARC. 

“Despite rising airfares, the number of passenger trips continued to accelerate as international travel bookings neared pre-pandemic levels.” 

Still, according to ARC, there is room to go for the industry—March was still behind 2019 levels, a year that saw $9.3 billion in total sales in that same month. March 2022 did close the gap from pre-pandemic levels from around $5 billion in January, to about $2.84 billion in February, to under $1.5 billion in March. 

That progress has been made even as the U.S. remains one of the only major countries worldwide to retain a 24-hour testing mandate for inbound travel regardless of vaccination status. 

  18
  0
Related Articles
ARC Data: International Ticket Sales Up 50% Over 2021 for June
ARC Data: Inbound Test Announcement Boosts U.S. Outbound Ticket Numbers
What Data Can, and Should, Mean to Travel Advisors
U.S. Airfares Are Now at a Seven-Year High
U.S. Travel Agencies Have Sold $91.3 Billion in Air Tickets This Year
ARC Encourages Agents to Analyze Sales Data More Through Software
ARC to Close Travel Agent MarketPlace Portal Dec. 29
New Products For Travel Agencies Top ARC Agenda
Airlines Reporting Corporation Sees Big Boost In Agency Sales Of One-Way Air Tickets
ARC Sees ‘Fairly Strong Environment’ For Travel Agencies In 2017

MOST VIEWED

Brought To You By
  1. Princess Cruises Forced to Adjust Alaska Sailings After White Pass Rail Road Decision
  2. River Cruise Lines Prepare to Deal with Low Water Levels on the Rhine
  3. Updated Cruise Line COVID-19 Vaccination, Booster, & Testing Requirements
  4. Water Levels on the Rhine Are Expected to Reach Critical Levels This Week
  5. The Ten Unwritten Rules of Travel
  6. Here Is Some of the New CDC Guidance on Cruise Ship Travel

MOST EMAILED

Brought To You By
  1. Updated Cruise Line COVID-19 Vaccination, Booster, & Testing Requirements
  2. River Cruise Lines Prepare to Deal with Low Water Levels on the Rhine
  3. Southwest Airlines’ Flight Credits Will No Longer Expire
  4. Viking Cruises' New Octantis Is So Much More than Just a Cruise Ship
  5. New DOT Rulemaking Goes Off the Rails on Refunds
  6. Princess Cruises Forced to Adjust Alaska Sailings After White Pass Rail Road Decision
TMR THIS WEEK
Sponsored by Intrepid Travel
//services.travelsavers.com/AMGService.svc/REST/GetImage?ImageID=9909dea1-a71c-ed11-b00b-005056a8720b&Width=350&Height&250

Antarctica: Truly Beyond

For advisors who do not regularly book this type of travel, it might seem like an intimidating task. But with the right training and support, any advisor can become a polar travel specialist. 

Read More...
TMR Subscription

Subscribe today to receive daily in-depth coverage, analysis of industry news, trends and issues that affect how you do business. Subscribe now for free.

Subscribe to TMR

Top Stories
Norwegian Cruise Line Pushes Norwegian Viva Launch (Again)
Norwegian Cruise Line Pushes Norwegian Viva Launch (Again)

This is the second time NCL has pushed back the launch date for Norwegian Viva. 

Read...
Princess Introduces Upgrade Bidding
Princess Introduces Upgrade Bidding

The new program helps clients save money on better-category staterooms and earns travel advisors extra commission. 

Read...
Virgin Voyages Grows North American Sales Team
Virgin Voyages Grows North American Sales Team

The cruise line is more than doubling its support team for travel advisors and adding new regional managers. 

Read...
Quark Expeditions Expands Polar Camping Options
Quark Expeditions Expands Polar Camping Options

Cruisers can now camp overnight in the Antarctic and Arctic. 

Read...
MSC Cruises Expands Onboard Activities
MSC Cruises Expands Onboard Activities

MSC rolls out the Family Deck Party and International Meet to more ships. 

Read...
6 Things to Know About Oceania Cruises
6 Things to Know About Oceania Cruises

For advisors who have never sailed with Oceania Cruises, here's a few things to know before recommending the line to clients.

Read...
TMR OUTLOOKS & WHITE PAPERS
lux cruise outlook
CP White Paper
Multi-Gen Outlook
Distribution Outlook (1)
New to Cruise Outlook
River Cruise Outlook 2019
View All
Advertiser's Voice
https://img.youtube.com/vi/J_wmGlymwpc/0.jpg
Video: A Quick Intro to Instagram Reels for Travel Advisors
About Travel Market Report Mission Editorial Staff Advisory Board Advertise
TMR Resources Webinars Calendar of Events
Subscribe to TMR
Select Language
Do You Have an Idea Email
editor@travelmarketreport.com
Give Us a Call
1-(516) 730-3097
Drop Us a Note
Travel Market Report
71 Audrey Ave, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
News|Leisure Travel|Land Vacations|Cruise|Canada Retail Strategies|Well-Being|Luxury|Training
© 2005 - 2022 Travel Market Report, an American Marketing Group Inc. Company All Rights Reserved | 243 South Street, Oyster Bay, NY, 11771 USA | Telephone (516) 730-3097| Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy