U.S. travel agencies recorded the highest six-month total for air ticket sales in history, surpassing $58.8 billion during the first half of 2026. The Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) released the data, showing a 12% increase compared to the same period last year. The surge in ticket sales reflects a steady demand for travel even as prices for seats have risen.
Total sales from January through June 2026 hit $58.8 billion. This figure beats the previous high set in 2023. Passenger trips also saw growth, rising 4% over the first half of the year. Domestic trips increased by 4% while international trips rose by 3%. The volume of passengers traveling through U.S. airports remained consistent across the board.
Steve Solomon, ARC’s Chief Commercial Officer, noted the resilience of the market. He said that growth in both domestic and international trips shows air travel is still a priority for many. Solomon added that the record-breaking totals reflect continued strong demand, with travelers adjusting to higher ticket prices and planning trips accordingly.
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The momentum continued into June. Monthly sales for the month totaled $9 billion, a 19% increase from June 2025. Passenger trips settled through ARC reached 24.2 million in June, a 4% rise from the year prior. The data comes from 9,873 retail and corporate travel agency locations and online travel agencies. It does not include sales of tickets purchased directly from airlines.
ARC released a breakdown of ticket prices for June. Average Economy Class ticket prices rose to $316. Average Premium Class ticket prices reached $1,444. The cost of travel has increased, yet the number of tickets sold has not slowed down. This suggests that travelers are willing to pay more to take trips.
Non-Traditional Distribution Channel (NDC) transactions made up 21.6% of all ARC-settled transactions in June. A total of 1,190 travel agencies reported activity in this category. The percentage of NDC transactions has remained steady over the months, indicating a stable shift in how tickets are sold.
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It is easy to assume that higher prices would automatically lead to fewer travelers. However, the data suggests that demand is elastic enough to withstand cost increases. When the cost of fuel or operations goes up, airlines pass those costs to the consumer. The fact that sales continue to climb indicates that the value of travel outweighs the expense for the average American household.
The report provides a net view of traveling passengers, adding newly issued trips and deducting refunds. This method ensures the numbers reflect actual movement rather than just sales volume. Whether the trend holds for the second half of the year remains to be seen, but the first six months of 2026 set a high bar for the industry.