January U.S.-based agency air ticket sales exceeded $10 billion, a 7 percent increase year over year, according to Airlines Reporting Corp. It is the first time in any month since the company started tracking this data that sales reached $10 billion.
The January results follow ARC's recent report that last year's air sales surpassed $100 billion for the first time.
Total January passenger trips were 28.2 million, a 6 percent increase year over year. U.S. domestic trips were up 4 percent for the period to 17.1 million, while international trips exceeded 11 million, an 8 percent increase compared with January 2025.
January trips sold by travel agencies with at least 70 percent self-reported corporate and government business counted by ARC declined 2.7 percent year over year. That decline continues what began in 2025, a year in which corporate trips in 10 out of 12 months dropped compared with the prior year.
"January's agency air ticket sales reflect the optimism for continued travel demand expressed by several North American airlines in their recent earnings call," ARC chief commercial officer Steve Solomon said in a statement. "The travel agency channel remains a key driver of airline revenue, particularly as travelers show sustained interest in international destinations and premium cabin offerings."
New Distribution Capability transactions accounted for 20 percent of total January ARC-settled transactions, up from the 16.5 percent reported for January 2025, with 1,207 agencies reporting NDC transactions.
The January average price for a U.S. domestic roundtrip ticket was $581, up from $570 in December 2025 and $557 in January 2025.
The price in January for an average economy-class ticket increased 7 percent year over year to $516, while the average price for a premium-class ticket was up 3 percent to $1,406.
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