Total U.S. air sales in May decreased year over year, the fourth straight month of decline, according to the latest report from Airlines Reporting Corp.
Total May U.S. sales settled by ARC declined nearly 5 percent year over year to just under $8.6 billion. Total May passenger trips inched up 0.26 percent to nearly 25.8 million. Domestic trips declined 0.12 percent year over year to nearly 16.2 million, while international trips were up 0.9 percent to nearly 9.6 million.
In addition, trips sold by corporate agencies, those with at least 70 percent self-reported corporate and government business and settled by ARC, declined for the fifth month in a row. They were down 8 percent year over year, the steepest of the monthly drops for 2025. In April, they were down 6.2 percent compared with April 2024.
"Overall travel demand remains steady despite a decline in corporate travel," ARC chief commercial officer Steve Solomon said in a statement. "Separate analysis by ARC has shown strength in domestic markets, including the U.S., this summer, which is a positive sign as we enter the typically busy summer travel season."
New Distribution Capability transactions in May accounted for 21.5 percent of the total transactions reported and settled by ARC, up from 20.3 percent in May 2024. The total number of agencies in May 2025 reporting NDC transactions was 948.
The May average price for a U.S. domestic roundtrip ticket was $530, down from $543 reported a year prior and down from $536 reported for April 2025.
The average price in May for an economy-class ticket increased 1 percent year over year to $462. The average price for a premium ticket for the same period was up 2 percent to $1,201.
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