Agency Transactions Jumped 6%—and Fares Fell—in 2015, ARC Reports

Travel agency sales processed through the Airlines Reporting Corp. dipped 1.53% in 2015, to $88.25 billion, but only because air fares were down. 

Transactions increased 6.16% year over year, to 155 million. Domestic transactions increased 4.7%, to 107.2 million, and international transactions were up by a whopping 9.6%, to 47.7 million. 

Despite the public perception that fares are always on the rise, domestic fares were down year over year by 2.75%, to $37.06 billion, and international fares were down 1.57%, to $32.86 billion. 

Fares dropped by even greater percentages in December: 5.36% domestically and 2.04% internationally. 

The total sales figure for 2015 includes $1.36 billion in refund and exchange fees, a slight increase of 0.19% over 2014. 

But other airline fees were down 2.8% for the year, to $7.04 billion. 

Usage of the Electronic Miscellaneous Document, used to process and fulfill sales of products and services such as upgraded seats, checked luggage, an unaccompanied minor or a pet-in-cabin, is growing by leaps and bounds after a painfully slow start in 2010.  

In 2015, EMD sales grew to $19.45 million, an increase of 410.35%. EMD transactions were up 333.6%, to 236,059.