Travel agency air ticket sales accredited by Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC) increased by 253% to $5.4 billion in February 2022 as compared with the same month a year earlier. The net sales total marks the highest level since February 2020, a month before the COVID-19 pandemic began to impact travel. The previous pandemic high for sales was $4.4 billion in November 2021. Month over month, February 2022 results showed:
- Total sales increased 48%.
- Total passenger trips increased 21%.
- US domestic trips were up 17%.
- International trips were up 28%.
Steve Solomon, vice president of global sales, marketing, operations and customer experience, said that with the US domestic travel market steadily rising, ARC is monitoring the war in Europe and its impact on the strong international travel growth that started the year. Total passenger trips settled by ARC in February 2022 increased 114% year over year, from 9.3 million to 19.8 million, aided by a 158% increase in international trips. US domestic trips were up 96% year over year to 12.9 million. The average US roundtrip ticket price in February 2022 was $464, a 34% increase from $346 in February 2021. The 2022 price was down 5% from the pre-pandemic February monthly average of $488. February 2022 EMD (electronic miscellaneous documents, including baggage, preferred seating, etc.) sales increased 202% year over year to $9,298,339. EMD transactions increased 175% to 177,014 over the same period.