The consolidated dollar value of airline tickets sold by
U.S.-based travel agencies reached $88.5 billion in 2017, up 3.4 percent from
$85.6 billion in 2016, according to Airlines Reporting Corp. ARC attributes the
sales increase in 2017 to the decrease in average ticket prices, increase in
passenger trips and strong economic conditions throughout 2017.
Compared to 2016, the average price for a domestic round-trip
itinerary dropped 1 percent to $483, according to ARC; average ticket prices have
been decreasing since 2015. The number of passenger trips settled by ARC for
U.S. travel agencies increased 3.5 percent.
Sales for Electronic Miscellaneous Documents, which include
fees for products and services like upgraded seats and checked luggage, reached
$77 million in 2017, up from $50 million in 2016. EMD transactions increased 58
percent to 1.3 million in 2017, up from 825,250 in 2016.
December 2017 ticket sales volume increased 1 percent in
2017 to $5.4 billion.
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ARC sales statistics