Air ticket sales from US-based travel agencies totaled $8.6 billion in October — a 6% year-over-year increase, according to the latest report from the Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC). It was the highest October monthly sales total ever recorded by ARC and marked the fourth straight month of record monthly sales.

Passenger trips issued through online travel agencies in October decreased 1% year over year, while passenger trips issued through leisure agencies increased 4%. October trips sold by travel agencies with at least 70% self-reported corporate and government business counted by ARC decreased 5.3% year over year. This figure has dropped each month in 2025 except for September.

Other results included:

• The average domestic ticket price was $576, up 3% both month over month and year over year.
• The average economy ticket price was $513, up 2% month over month and down 2% year over year.
• The average premium class ticket price was $1,404, up 3% month over month and up 8% year over year.

Steve Solomon, chief commercial officer, said, “Uncertainty caused by the US government shutdown may have had a short-term negative effect on corporate and government air travel in October, but overall US air travel had another positive month.” Robust international travel and steady domestic demand, he said, are driving ticket volumes above 2024 levels.

NDC transactions accounted for 20.6% of the total ARC-settled transactions in October — up from 19.1% in October 2024. In October 2025, a total of 1,144 travel agencies reported NDC transactions.