Corporate sales declined for fifth month in a row

US-based travel agency air ticket sales in May totaled $8.6 billion in May 2025 — a 5% year-over-year decrease, according to the latest report from Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC). May’s passenger trips settled by ARC reached 25.8 million. There were 16.2 million US domestic trips (flat month over month and year over year) and 9.6 million international trips (up 1% both month over month and year over year).

In addition, trips sold by corporate agencies, those with at least 70% self-reported corporate and government business and settled by ARC, declined for the fifth month in a row. They were down 8% year over year, the steepest of the monthly drops for 2025. In April, they were down 6.2% compared with April 2024. Passenger trips issued through online travel agencies rose 8% year over year.

Steve Solomon, chief commercial officer, said overall travel demand remains steady despite a decline in corporate travel. Separate analysis by ARC, he said, “has shown strength in domestic markets, including the US, this summer, which is a positive sign as we enter the typically busy summer travel season.”

The average ticket price was $530, down 1% month over month and 2% year over year; the average economy ticket price was $462, down 2% month over month and up 1% year over year; and the average premium ticket price was $1,201, down 2% month over month and up 2% year over year.

NDC transactions accounted for 21.5% of the total ARC reported and settled transactions in May — up from 20.3% in May 2024. A total of 948 travel agencies reported NDC transactions in May.