Total Air Ticket Sales Still Ticking Up for Travel Agencies
by Daniel McCarthy
Photo: Kate Scott / Shutterstock.com
Travel agency air ticket sales continue to increase.
According to the latest data from the Airline Reporting Corp. (ARC), travel agencies sold a total of $9.03 billion of air tickets in May, up 7% from May 2022 and 3% from April 2023. The number is the second time this year that agencies have sold more than $9 billion, joining March, a month that saw a record $9.6 billion in sales.
The increase also comes as the average price of a round-trip air ticket fell below year-over-year levels for the second consecutive month—May 2023 saw average ticket prices 11% lower than the same month last year.
“The record-setting Memorial Day travel weekend confirmed the continued strong demand for U.S. domestic and international air travel,” said Steve Solomon, chief commercial officer at ARC.
“Travelers will be relieved to see both lower airfare prices and increased seat capacity compared to last year as they book travel for what could be the busiest summer travel season ever for several popular destinations.”
The data is particularly good news after April saw total month-over-month sales dip compared to that March record.
