U.S. Travel Agencies Set New Record with $99.2 Billion in Air Ticket Sales for 2024
by Daniel McCarthy
Photo: VIAVAL TOURS / Shutterstock.com
U.S.-based travel agencies sold more air tickets in 2024 than in any other year on record.
According to full-year data released this week by the Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC), total air ticket sales for 2024 reached $99.2 billion, a 4% increase over 2023.
All full-year metrics in ARC’s data rose in 2024. Total passenger trips were up 6%, with domestic trips increasing by 7% and international trips by 4%, indicating that the growth was not solely driven by higher airfares.
In December, air ticket sales slowed month over month but remained significantly higher than in 2023. Total sales for the month reached $6.7 billion, a 17% increase over last year. It marked the eighth month of record-breaking sales for the U.S. travel industry in 2024.
December data also showed NDC transactions trending up for the industry. Those sales accounted for 20.3% of total ARC-reported and settled transactions for the month, a 10% increase from 18.4% in December 2023. In total, 799 travel agencies reported NDC transactions during December 2024.
