Prices are down for economy and premium seats

Air ticket sales through US-based travel agencies reached $9.3 billion in March, remaining steady compared with the same month in 2024, according to the latest report from Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC). March’s total passenger trips settled by ARC increased 6% year over year, totaling 27.1 million.

Through the first quarter of 2025, US travel agency air ticket sales totaled $27.3 billion, a slight increase compared with 2024’s first-quarter sales of $27.2 billion. Total passenger trips for the quarter rose by 3% compared with the same period in 2024.

The average ticket price in March was $536, down 5% month over month and 6% year over year. The average economy ticket price was $471, down 2% month over month and 3% year over year; and the average premium ticket price was $1,237, down 1% both month over month and year over year.

Steve Solomon, chief commercial officer at ARC, said, “Monthly U.S. travel agency air ticket sales rebounded in March after a dip in February.” Overall, he said, “air travel demand grew slightly more than 3% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, despite global geopolitical uncertainties.”

NDC transactions accounted for 20.3% of the total ARC reported and settled transactions in March — a 9% increase from 18.6% in March 2024. In March 2025, a total of 890 travel agencies reported NDC transactions.