#United States #Arlington #Airlines Reporting Corp #travel agencies #U.S. Sales

Record High of Air Ticket Sales

In a recent report by Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC), data revealed that U.S.-based travel agencies achieved remarkable air ticket sales of $8.6 billion in October 2025, showcasing a significant 6% year-over-year increase and marking the highest sales total for any October since ARC began tracking this data. This achievement comes despite some market volatility caused by external factors, such as the recent government shutdown.

The October figures represent not just a new monthly record but also the fourth consecutive month that sales have reached new heights. According to Steve Solomon, the chief commercial officer at ARC, while the uncertainty surrounding the government shutdown had a temporary adverse effect on corporate and government travel, overall conditions in the air travel market remained robust, fueled by strong international and consistent domestic travel demand.

Detailed October 2025 Sales Metrics

The statistics from ARC provide a deeper insight into the dynamics of air travel for the month:

• - Total Sales: $8.6 billion (-1% month-over-month, +6% year-over-year)
• - Total Passenger Trips: 24.6 million (-3% month-over-month, +4% year-over-year)
• - U.S. Domestic Trips: 15.7 million (-4% month-over-month, +2% year-over-year)
• - International Trips: 8.9 million (-1% month-over-month, +8% year-over-year)
• - Average Ticket Price: $576 (+3% month-over-month, +3% year-over-year)

When broke down further, the average economy class ticket price reached $513, representing a 2% decrease year-over-year. Meanwhile, the premium class tickets saw a price increase, with the average premium class ticket costing $1,404—up 8% from the previous year.

Market Dynamics and Trends

Despite the observed reduction in passenger trips from online travel agencies, which saw a 1% decrease year-over-year, leisure travel agencies experienced a 4% increase in ticket sales. Conversely, corporate travel agencies faced a 5% decline during the same period, likely influenced by the uncertainty surrounding corporate air travel amid the government shutdown. This indicates a potential shift in consumer behavior towards leisure travel compared to business engagements.

Additionally, NDC (New Distribution Capability) transactions accounted for 20.6% of total ARC-settled transactions, an increase from 19.1% in October 2024, highlighting the growing importance of technology and innovation in the travel booking processes.

Going forward, the travel industry continues to navigate through these volatile conditions. As established by ARC's vast dataset, which includes over 24 billion passenger flights since 2015, the insights gained are crucial in understanding consumer preferences and market trends.

Conclusion

With record sales reported for October 2025, the U.S. travel industry appears to be on a positive trajectory, although it grapples with the short-term impacts of government policies and economic conditions. As travel demand fluctuates, the integral role played by both leisure and corporate travel agencies remains vital for sustaining and future growth in the air travel market.

For more insights on air ticket sales and detailed statistics, visit ARC's sales statistics page.

About Airlines Reporting Corp.

ARC is recognized for managing the world's comprehensive dataset of airline ticketing and provides revenue management services that facilitate informed decision-making within the travel sector.