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

U.S. Airfares Are Now at a Seven-Year High

by Daniel McCarthy / May 20, 2022
travel airfare air ticket cost high record ARC

Photo: Mikhalis Makarov / Shutterstock.com


The average cost of an airline ticket continues its march upward, but it is not deterring consumers to book travel. That is according to new data released on Thursday by the Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC).

According to ARC, the average U.S. round-trip ticket price increased again in April, now totaling $585. That is 8% higher than March, which saw an average ticket price of $540, and 45% higher than the same month last year. It is also the highest average price recorded in the past seven years.

Still, despite the increase, data from April shows that the total air ticket sales are up 156% over April 2021, good news for a U.S. travel industry that continues its recovery to, and past, the numbers it reached in 2019.

In fact, total passenger trips settled by ARC in April 2022 increased 52% year over year from 14.7 million to 22.5 million, including a 41% increase to 14.5 million for domestic trips and a 78% increase to 7.9 million for international trips.

There are some decreases in ARC’s data—month-over-month, total sales decreased 1%, as did total passenger trips (down 10%), U.S. domestic trips (down 11%), and international trips (down 8%). However, according to ARC, those decreases are due to typical seasonal cycles and are actually trending better than they had in previous years.

“April’s month-over-month sales and passenger totals are in line with pre-pandemic travel trends. We continue to monitor the impact higher airfares have on traveler demand,” said Steve Solomon, vice president of global customers and data products at ARC.

“Pre-pandemic, we typically saw a decrease in passenger trips from March to April and an even more profound drop in sales compared to what we saw this year.” 

The demand will have to remain consistent for the travel industry to reach those 2019 levels—the U.S. Travel Association recently said it does not believe the industry will reach those levels until 2024 and TSA passenger data shows that, even with daily checkpoint numbers exceeding 2 million regularly, there is still a 15% gap from those 2019 levels.

  35
  0
Related Articles
What Data Can, and Should, Mean to Travel Advisors
Airlines Tickets Are Now 11% Higher Than They Were Pre-Pandemic
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
Ticket Transactions Soar In November
ARC, Travelport Roll Out ‘Translator’ For Disparate Standards

MOST VIEWED

Brought To You By
  1. A&K Purchases Crystal Ships, Revives Crystal Cruises Brand
  2. Travel to Italy Is Officially Back to Normal
  3. CDC Adds Three Caribbean Destinations to “High-Risk” COVID-19 List
  4. Viking Drops Onboard & Pre-Cruise COVID-19 Testing
  5. European Countries Will Soon Start Requiring Inbound Travelers Pay a Fee Prior to Travel
  6. Three Cruise Lines Bring Masks Back in Alaska

MOST EMAILED

Brought To You By
  1. Travel to Italy Is Officially Back to Normal
  2. Report: U.S. to End COVID-19 Air Travel Testing Requirement
  3. European Countries Will Soon Start Requiring Inbound Travelers Pay a Fee Prior to Travel
  4. A&K Purchases Crystal Ships, Revives Crystal Cruises Brand
  5. Japan Could Boot Tourists Who Disobey COVID-19 Rules
  6. Viking Drops Onboard & Pre-Cruise COVID-19 Testing
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
Silversea Adds Fly-Cruise Antarctic Voyages
Silversea Adds Fly-Cruise Antarctic Voyages

Demand for Antarctic voyages that bypass the Drake Passage is growing. 

Read...
Yacht-Style Cruising: A Niche Within a Niche
Yacht-Style Cruising: A Niche Within a Niche

Is yacht-style cruising different from small-ship cruising or is it merely branding and marketing? 

Read...
Travel Advisors Discuss Challenges – and Solutions – at TMP East 2022
Travel Advisors Discuss Challenges – and Solutions – at TMP East 2022

Advisors traded challenges and solutions during a peer-to-peer session at TMP East in Toronto.

Read...
Two More Airlines Join TSA PreCheck
Two More Airlines Join TSA PreCheck

Two more airlines have been added to the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) PreCheck known traveler program.

Read...
The TSA Hits Its Highest Checkpoint Volume Since February 2020
The TSA Hits Its Highest Checkpoint Volume Since February 2020

The question now becomes, is the industry and the travel infrastructure prepared for the rebound?

Read...
Marketing, Engagement, & Partnerships Lead Discussions as TMP East Opens
Marketing, Engagement, & Partnerships Lead Discussions as TMP East Opens

The two-day conference provides attendees a packed schedule of general sessions, TED-style talks, panel discussions, a packed trade show floor and more.

Read...
TMR OUTLOOKS & WHITE PAPERS
CP White Paper
Multi-Gen Outlook
Distribution Outlook (1)
New to Cruise Outlook
Expedition 2020
River Cruise Outlook 2019
View All
Advertiser's Voice
https://img.youtube.com/vi/QTPIinGDcIY/0.jpg
Video: Can Booking Bachelor and Bachelorette Party Groups Be Profitable for 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