U.S. travel agency air ticket sales hit a record $58.8 billion for the first half of 2026, according to data released by Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC). The figure marks a 12 percent rise over the same period last year and tops the previous high set in 2023.
Travel agencies dominate sales.
Mid‑year numbers show robust demand
ARC’s report covers sales from 9,873 retail and corporate travel agencies and online platforms across the United States. The total excludes tickets bought directly from airlines. Passenger trips rose 4 percent year‑over‑year, with domestic journeys up 4 percent and international trips climbing 3 percent.
“Growth in both domestic and international trips through the first six months of the year shows air travel is still a priority,” said Steve Solomon, ARC’s chief commercial officer. “The record‑breaking mid‑year 2026 totals reflect continued strong demand, with travelers adjusting to higher ticket prices and planning trips.”
June alone contributed $9 billion in sales, a 19 percent jump from June 2025. That month, ARC settled 24.2 million passenger trips, again up 4 percent from a year earlier.
Ticket pricing and new distribution trends
Average economy‑class round‑trip tickets for domestic itineraries settled through ARC in June 2026 were higher than the previous year, though the exact figure was not disclosed in the summary. Premium‑class fares followed a similar upward trend.
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New Distribution Capability (NDC) transactions held steady at 21.6 percent of all ARC‑settled sales in June, with 1,190 agencies reporting NDC activity. This indicates that a modest but consistent portion of bookings are made through the newer, airline‑direct channel.
While the report focuses on agency‑mediated sales, the overall travel market continues to feel the impact of higher fares. Travelers appear to be tolerating cost increases, possibly because of pent‑up demand after pandemic‑related restrictions eased.
Understanding the broader context, the surge in agency sales suggests that many consumers still prefer using intermediaries for price comparison and itinerary planning, rather than booking directly with carriers. This behavior supports a diverse ecosystem of travel services, even as airlines push more sales through NDC.
ARC’s data also clarifies how passenger trips are counted. New trips are added, and refunds are subtracted, providing a net view of travelers moving between airports. Domestic trips include any itinerary wholly within the United States, while international trips cover itineraries that start, end, or pass through foreign airports.
Overall, the six‑month total of $58.8 billion shows a strong rebound in air travel demand, despite higher ticket prices and ongoing inflationary pressures.