Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC) released data showing 2024’s US-based travel agency air ticket sales totaled $99.2 billion. The 2024 sales grew 4 percent from 2023 and represent the highest annual total recorded by ARC, while total passenger trips grew 6 percent to 284.9 million.
 
In December, US travel agencies reported a surge demand, with ticket sales reaching $6.7 billion, a 17 percent increase over the same month in 2023. Total passenger trips rose 13 percent year over year to 19 million, driven by double-digit percentage increases in both domestic and international trips.
 
A total of 799 travel agencies reported NDC transactions during December. Of the total ARC reported and settled transactions that month, NDC transactions accounted for 20.3 percent compared to 18.4 percent in the same period last year. 

“2024 was a momentous year for air travel, with eight record-breaking months of agency sales and a strong close in December,” said Steve Solomon, chief commercial officer at ARC. “Sales and passenger trip growth were made possible by industry collaboration to meet travelers and travel managers where they want to do business. Airlines, agencies and technology providers made a concerted effort to support modern airline retailing in 2024, evidenced by total NDC transaction volume increasing more than 50 percent since 2023.”