Search Travel Market Report

mainlogo
www.travelmarketreport.com
  • News
  • Packaged Travel
  • Cruise
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Destinations
  • Retail Strategies
  • Niche & Luxury
  • Air
  • Training & Resources
  • Who We Are
    • Brian Israel
    • Briana Bonfiglio
    • Candace Protzman
    • Dan McCarthy
    • Dori Saltzman
    • Jennifer Arango
    • Kelly Fontenelle
    • Louis Intreglia
    • Tom McCarthy

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
ARC: Air Ticket Prices Dropping, Sales Still Up
Total Air Ticket Sales Still Ticking Up for Travel Agencies
Travel Agency Air Ticket Sales Dip Month-Over-Month
U.S. Travel Agency Air Ticket Sales Reach Record High in March, Surpassing Pre-Pandemic Levels
Travel Agency February Air Ticket Sales Up 54% Over 2022
Travel Agency August Air Ticket Sales Up 127% Over 2021
Holiday Airfare Is Expected to Be Most Expensive in 5 Years
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

MOST VIEWED

  1. Maui Fires Update: Which Hotels and Resorts Are Open and Closed After Lahaina Fires
  2. FAA Issues Nationwide Ground Stop for United Airlines Flights
  3. Southwest Airlines Strike Seems Imminent
  4. Hurricane Lee's Uncertain Path Raises Some Travel Concerns
  5. Celebrity Cruises Removes Gratuities from "All Included" Pricing
  6. Hurricane Lee Intensifies to Category 5: Caribbean and U.S. Impact Uncertain


  1. Two Florida Ports Remain Closed After Hurricane Idalia
  2. Updated Cruise Line COVID-19 Vaccination, Booster, & Testing Requirements
  3. Idalia Expected to Hit Florida as ‘Extremely Dangerous Major Hurricane’ on Wednesday
  4. Hurricane Lee Update: Storm Poses Threat to New England and Atlantic Canada
  5. Royal Caribbean Monitoring Haiti Violence
  6. Cruise Ships Reroute to Avoid Hurricane Idalia
TMR THIS WEEK
Sponsored by Carnival Cruise Line
//services.travelsavers.com/AMGService.svc/REST/GetImage?ImageID=8eb8c379-4b59-ee11-92d0-005056a8720b&Width=350&Height&250

Why Every Travel Advisor Needs a Business Plan…And How to Start One

A business plan is not just a document; it's your compass. 

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
New York City Declares State of Emergency as Historic Rainfall Sparks Widespread Flooding
New York City Declares State of Emergency as Historic Rainfall Sparks Widespread Flooding

Travel from New York City airports is being impacted. 

Read...
Travel Industry Could Feel Real Pain from U.S. Government Shutdown
Travel Industry Could Feel Real Pain from U.S. Government Shutdown

A shutdown would cost the travel economy as much as $140 million per day, 

Read...
Delta Air Lines Is Rethinking SkyMiles and SkyClub Changes
Delta Air Lines Is Rethinking SkyMiles and SkyClub Changes

"I think we moved too fast," CEO Ed Bastian said this week. 

Read...
Reports: New EU Visa Program ETIAS Won’t Start Until 2025
Reports: New EU Visa Program ETIAS Won’t Start Until 2025

The long-talked-about visa program for inbound travelers to Europe is reportedly delayed yet again.

Read...
Southwest Airlines Strike Seems Imminent
Southwest Airlines Strike Seems Imminent

Members of Southwest’s pilots' union voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike.

Read...
Hurricane Lee Nears New England and Atlantic Canada: Airline Waivers and Cruise Changes
Hurricane Lee Nears New England and Atlantic Canada: Airline Waivers and Cruise Changes

Even after losing strength, Lee is a "large and dangerous storm." 

Read...
TMR OUTLOOKS & WHITE PAPERS
European Travel Trends 2023 Outlook
CP White Paper 1
Cruise Trend Outlook 2023
View All
industry insider
industry-insider.jpg
//services.travelsavers.com/AMGService.svc/REST/GetImage?ImageID=f22339b7-9c5b-ee11-92d0-005056a8720b
What Does Social Media Really Mean?
Advertiser's Voice
//services.travelsavers.com/AMGService.svc/REST/GetImage?ImageID=19a07eaa-b65e-ee11-92d0-005056a8720b
MasterAdvisor 77: Tips for Making the Move to the Luxury Travel Segment
About Travel Market Report Mission Staff Advisory Board Advertise
TMR Resources Webinars Calendar of Events Outlook/Whitepapers Previous Sponsored Articles Previous This Week Articles
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 |Packaged Travel |Cruise |Hotels & Resorts |Destinations |Retail Strategies |Niche & Luxury |Air |Training & Resources |Who We Are
© 2005 - 2023 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