The number of U.S. travel agency air transactions processed through ARC in February increased 3.4 percent year over year,

following a flat month in January. Excluding exchanges and refunds, the mega category showed a 2.1 percent increase while online agencies as a group experienced a 1.5 percent decline. For all other agencies—a group that usually outperforms the rest in terms of growth rate—transactions increased 8.7 percent year over year. The mega segment includes American Express, BCD Travel, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Expedia's Egencia, Hogg Robinson Group and Omega World Travel. Meanwhile, the average February roundtrip airfare excluding taxes processed through ARC was $747 in the mega agency category (up from $732 a year earlier), $389 among online travel agencies (up from $387) and $617 among all other agencies (down from $627).