Following a record-breaking February, air ticket sales totaled $9.4 billion for U.S. travel agencies in March 2024, according to new data released by Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC) on Thursday.
While the figure marks a 3 percent decrease from March 2023, total sales and passenger trips for the first quarter of 2024 were higher than the first quarter of 2023 by 3 percent and 5 percent, respectively.
The 25.6 million total passenger trips for March signaled a 5 percent month-over-month increase but a 1 percent year-over-year decrease. U.S. domestic trips (15.8 million) and international trips (9.8 million) both climbed 5 percent from the previous month but were up just 1 percent and down 4 percent from March 2023, respectively.
The average ticket price for March was $571, down slightly from February 2024 and 2 percent higher compared to March 2023.
"Despite March's slight decrease in year-over-year sales totals, airlines and U.S. travel agencies experienced a positive first quarter in 2024," Steve Solomon, chief commercial officer at ARC, said in a statement. "U.S. domestic travel demand powered much of this growth. With the summer travel season nearing, the strong dollar is helping drive demand to international destinations by U.S.-based travelers."
According to ARC, March ancillary sales—which include fees for products and services like upgraded seats, checked bags, an unaccompanied minor and pet-in-cabin, among others—increased 21 percent year-over-year to $32 million. Meanwhile, ancillary transactions increased 43 percent to 534,211 over the same period.
The results are based on monthly sales data ending March 31, 2024, from as many as 10,325 U.S. retail and corporate travel agency locations, satellite ticket printing offices and online travel agencies.
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