Total U.S. travel agency air transactions processed through ARC in September increased 5.4 percent from the year-earlier period.

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) as a group posted a 4.7 percent increase, higher than their aggregate 2.2 percent year-to-date growth rate. For the online agency segment, transactions in September were marginally higher but still down 2.3 percent on the year. All those categorized as "other" combined for 10.2 percent transaction growth, above their 7.9 percent year-to-date increase. Meanwhile, the average roundtrip airfares (excluding taxes) purchased through ARC generally were flat versus September 2013 levels. That included $731 transacted through megas, $629 among those in the "other" category and $390 among online travel agencies. In the zero-to-six-day advance-purchase category, average September fares declined in each agency segment.