U.S. travel agency ticket sales continue to increase: Airlines Reporting Corp.’s recently released data shows July 2023 sales were up 11 percent year-over-year to $7.6 billion. July sales were bolstered by a 16 percent year-over-year increase in international passenger trips and a 7 percent increase in U.S. domestic passenger trips settled through ARC.

The average ticket price for a U.S. domestic round-trip air ticket in July 2023 was $528, a 5 percent decrease both month-over-month and year-over-year. That also means there was an uptick in total passenger trips in July 2023 to 21,928,518, a 10 percent increase over 2022. Although total trips were down 2 percent from June, Steve Solomon, chief commercial officer at ARC, said these results “reflect typical seasonality trends.”

In addition, ancillary sales—which Includes fees for products and services, such as upgraded seats, checked bags, an unaccompanied minor, pet-in-cabin, etc.—increased 86 percent year-over-year to $25,257,331.

For the year through July, total fares are 23.6 percent higher than 2022 and total passenger trips are up 10.72 percent, showing the strength of the travel industry’s recovery, led by Americans’ desire to travel after years of restrictions.

For those in search of a “deal,” airfare has dropped three straight months and is amid a stretch where prices typically remain stagnant before rising again in October, likely as people begin buying tickets to travel for the holidays.

Source: ARC