International Travel Bolstered Overall Passenger Trips as Monthly Sales Declined

Today, Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC) released data showing U.S.-based travel agency air ticket sales totaled $8.6 billion in February 2025 – a 4% decrease from February 2024.*

Total passenger trips settled by ARC decreased 1% year over year, reaching 24 million in February 2025.

Results for February 2025 showed:

“U.S. travel agency air ticket sales are reflecting the overall demand volatility seen by airlines,” said Steve Solomon, chief commercial officer at ARC. “Macroeconomic trends are creating a more dynamic environment for consumers, businesses and airlines in the short term. Even with fewer passengers traveling compared to January, our year-over-year data for both domestic and international trips remains steady.”

NDC transactions accounted for 19.1% of the total ARC reported and settled transactions in February 2025 – a 7% increase from 17.9% in February 2024. A total of 860 travel agencies reported NDC transactions in February 2025.

More detailed information is available on ARC’s sales statistics page.

*Ticket Sales  

• Results are based on monthly sales data ending February 28, 2025, from 10,218 U.S. retail and corporate travel agency locations, satellite ticket printing offices and online travel agencies. Results do not include sales of tickets purchased directly from airlines.
• The average ticket price (USD) is for a round-trip ticket settled through ARC for an itinerary that included only U.S. domestic travel.
• Passenger trips include the total number of passengers traveling from one airport to another using direct or connecting flights. Newly issued trips are added, and refunded trips are deducted to provide a net view of traveling passengers.
• U.S. domestic passenger trips include the total number settled through ARC where the itinerary is wholly within the U.S. International passenger trips include the total number settled through ARC where some or all the travel occurs to airports outside the U.S. or originates outside the U.S.
• Total sales are equal to the total amount paid for a ticket, which includes taxes and fees.

**Average Economy Class Ticket Price

• Economy Class is defined as tickets for U.S. domestic travel purchased in February 2025 under fare codes excluding First Class, Business Class, Business Class Premium and Supersonic.

***Average Premium Class Ticket Price

• Premium Class is defined as tickets for U.S. domestic travel purchased in February 2025 under fare codes assigned to First Class, Business Class, Business Class Premium and Supersonic.