Total U.S. travel agency air transactions processed through ARC in July were up 4.2 percent year over year,

a sixth consecutive month of growth, according to ARC data provided to BTN. As a group, the mega travel management companies (listed by ARC as American Express, BCD Travel, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Expedia's Egencia, Hogg Robinson Group and Omega World Travel) experienced a 3.2 percent increase in transactions. Including BCD Travel's Travelocity Business but also primarily leisure-oriented sellers, the online travel agency group processed slightly more air transactions via ARC than they had in July 2013, the first such monthly increase reported this year. The "other" agency segment showed its usual relative strength with an 8.6 percent increase in July ARC transaction volume. Data excludes refunds and exchanges.