January U.S. Travel Agency Air Ticket Sales Top $10 Billion
Tuesday, February 24th, 2026
Today, Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC) released data showing U.S.-based travel agency air ticket sales totaled $10 billion in January 2026 — a 7% increase from January 2025.* The January 2026 total marks the first time monthly travel agency air ticket sales have eclipsed $10 billion since ARC began tracking data.
Results for January 2026 showed:
|
ARC Ticketing Metric |
Total |
Month-Over-Month Variance |
Year-Over-Year Variance |
|
Total Sales |
$10 billion |
+39 % |
+7 % |
|
Total Passenger Trips |
28.2 million |
+38 % |
+6 % |
|
U.S. Domestic Trips |
17.1 million |
+42 % |
+4 % |
|
International Trips |
11.1 million |
+32 % |
+8 % |
|
Average Ticket Price |
$581 |
+2 % |
+4 % |
|
Average Economy Class Ticket Price** |
$516 |
+3 % |
+7 % |
|
Average Premium Class Ticket Price*** |
$1,406 |
0 % |
+3 % |
"January's agency air ticket sales reflect the optimism for continued travel demand expressed by several North American airlines in their recent earnings calls," said Steve Solomon, chief commercial officer at ARC. "The travel agency channel remains a key driver of airline revenue, particularly as travelers show sustained interest in international destinations and premium cabin offerings."
Passenger trips issued through leisure-focused travel agencies in January 2026 increased 6% year over year, while passenger trips issued through corporate agencies and online travel agencies decreased 3% and 4%, respectively.
NDC transactions accounted for 20% of the total ARC-settled transactions in January 2026 — up from 16.5% in January 2025. In January 2026, a total of 1,207 travel agencies reported NDC transactions.
More detailed information is available on ARC's sales statistics page.
