Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC) reported that US travel agency air ticket sales in June increased 2% year over year to $8.1 billion. Total sales for the first six months of 2023 were 27% higher than the first six months of 2022 and down 0.3% compared with 2019. Total passenger trips were up 11% over the same period compared with 2022 and down 12% compared with 2019.

International travel saw the biggest improvement from January to June 2023, with the total number of international trips settled through ARC increasing 22% year over year compared with a 5% growth in domestic trips.

Steve Solomon, chief commercial officer, said air travel’s resiliency was “on full display” through the first half of 2023. “Despite some economic headwinds,” he said, “both business and leisure travelers showed strong demand, airlines continued to add flights, and travel agency sales continued to increase.”

June marked the third month in a row that the average price of a US round-trip ticket was below year-over-year levels.

Ancillary sales (upgraded seats, checked bags, etc.) increased 79% year over year to $24,555,898. Ancillary transactions increased 62% to 377,122 over the same period.