Year-over-year US Travel Agency air ticket sales up 569% in April

March net sales total equals largest month-over-month increase since summer 2020

Year-over-year US Travel Agency air ticket sales up 569% in April

May 25 - Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC) released data showing net sales from ARC-accredited travel agencies totaling $3 billion in April 2021, a 569% increase compared to April 2020, the first full month of the pandemic impacting air travel in the U.S., when total sales were negative due to an increase in refunds and reduced travel bookings.* The total represents an 8% month-over-month increase from March 2021.

Total passenger trips settled by ARC in April 2021 increased 579% year over year, from 2,175,790 to 14,762,919, fueled by U.S. domestic air travel. U.S. domestic trips were up 603% to 14.8 million, while international trips were up 528% to 4.5 million YOY. The average U.S. round-trip ticket price increased from $336 in April 2020 to $404 in April 2021. The total marks the third-consecutive month of average ticket price increases.

“Air travel bookings and sales bottomed out in April 2020, so we’re seeing the depth the industry has climbed back from in April 2021’s data,” said Chuck Thackston, managing director of data science and research at ARC. “While the numbers are still down compared to 2019 levels, the consecutive months of sales and passenger trip growth is encouraging as the industry nears its normally busy summer months.”