U.S. Travel Agency Air Ticket Sales Defy Seasonal Trends with 5% Month-over-Month Increase in November

December 16, 2021
Infographic - Source - ARC - U.S. Air Ticket Sales Trends

U.S. Travel Agency Air Ticket Sales Defy Seasonal Trends with 5% Month-over-Month Increase in November

Average U.S. Round-trip Ticket Price Up 26% Compared to Last Year

Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC) today released data showing ARC-accredited travel agency air ticket sales surpassed $4 billion for the second consecutive month, with total sales of $4.5 billion in November 2021. The total represents a 279% year-over-year increase from $1.2 billion in November 2020.*

Month over month, November 2021 results showed:

  • Total sales increased 5%.
  • Total passenger trips decreased 5%.
  • U.S. domestic trips decreased 7%.
  • International trips were down 1%.

“Pre-pandemic, month-over-month sales and passenger trips typically decline from October to November. The U.S. opening its borders to vaccinated international travelers on November 8 coupled with rising ticket prices helped increase total sales despite the overall number of trips declining,” said Steve Solomon, vice president of global sales, marketing, operations and customer experience at ARC. “We will continue to monitor demand changes due to the omicron variant and some countries reinstating travel and border restrictions.”

Total passenger trips settled by ARC in November 2021 increased 140% year over year from 6.9 million to 16.7 million. U.S. domestic passenger trips increased 144% to 11.4 million, while international passenger trips increased 132% to 5.3 million. The average U.S. round-trip ticket price in November 2021 was $464, a 26% increase from $368 in November 2020.

Year over year, November 2021 EMD sales increased 229% to $8,692,372. EMD transactions increased 187% to 167,230.**

More detailed information is available on ARC’s sales statistics page. Additional breakdown of corporate, leisure and online ticket sales can be found on the ARC COVID-19 data page.

*Ticket Sales

  • Results are based on monthly sales data ending November 30, 2021, from 10,851 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 taking a trip 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.

**Electronic Miscellaneous Documents (EMD)

  • Includes fees for products and services such as upgraded seats, checked bags, an unaccompanied minor, pet-in-cabin, etc.

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