US-based travel agency air ticket sales totaled $9.8 billion in August 2026 — a 19% increase over August 2025, the previous highest recorded August total, according to the latest report from the Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC). That figure was 2% over July. Total passenger trips reached 25.8 million in August 2026, up 5% year-over-year and flat month over month.

Steve Solomon, chief commercial officer, said the total reflects “the continued strength of the US travel market and continued demand.”  He added, “The strong summer trends from June and July carried into August, with travel to both US domestic and international destinations remaining steady from the prior month and above 2025 levels.”

 Other results included:

• US domestic trips totaled 16.5 million, flat month over month and up 5% year over year.
• International trips totaled 9.3 million, flat month over month and up 5% year over year.
• Average ticket price was $624, up 1% month over month and 17% year over year.
• Average economy class ticket price was $569, up 1% month over month and 17% year over year.
• Average premium class ticket price was $1,454, up 3% month over month and 11% year over year.
• NDC transactions accounted for 21.5% of total ARC-settled transactions in August 2026, which is a 3% increase from the previous year. In August 2026, 1,221 travel agencies reported NDC transactions.