by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 10:50 AM ET, Wed November 19, 2025
U.S.-based travel agency air ticket sales marked a fourth straight monthly record in sales totals this October, marking a 6 percent year-over-year increase with a record $8.6 billion in sales, according to new data from ARC.
While air travelers took one percent less trips with online travel agencies and 5 percent less business trips through corporate travel agencies in October, trips logged through leisure agencies increased 4 percent, showing leisure travel’s climb in popularity, even during a traditionally off-season month.
September sales was higher than October sales by one percent, but year-over-year, this October performed 6 percent better.
Domestic trips were up 2 percent, with 15.7 million people traveling through October, but international travel continues outpacing domestic: 8.9 million people traveled in October, an 8 percent increase from the year before.
The average ticket price continues to rise, too, at an increase of 3 percent from September and from last October, averaging at about $576. The average economy ticket is at $513, 2 percent less than last year, but the average premium class ticket is up 8 percent, at $1,404.
“Uncertainty caused by the U.S. government shutdown may have had a short-term negative effect on corporate and government air travel in October, but overall, U.S. air travel had another positive month,” said Steve Solomon, chief commercial officer at ARC. “Robust international travel and steady domestic demand are driving ticket volumes above 2024 levels.”
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