March Air Travel Sales and Average Ticket Price Reach Pandemic Highs

Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC) released data showing ARC-accredited travel agency air ticket sales totaling $7.8 billion in March 2022, a 180% increase year over year from March 2021.* The net sales total marks a second consecutive pandemic high and the first time sales have eclipsed $7 billion since February 2020.

Month over month, March 2022 results showed:

• Total sales increased 45%.
• Total passenger trips increased 25%.
• U.S. domestic trips up 25%.
• International trips up 26%.

“March’s sales were fueled by strong growth in corporate travel, which improved from 60% of pre-pandemic levels in the first week of March to 70% of pre-pandemic levels in the last week,” said Steve Solomon, vice president of global customers and data products at ARC. “Despite rising airfares, the number of passenger trips continued to accelerate as international travel bookings neared pre-pandemic levels.”

In March 2022, total passenger trips settled by ARC increased 74% year over year from 14.3 million to 24.9 million. International trips nearly doubled year over year, totaling 8.7 million, while U.S. domestic trips increased 64% to 16.3 million in the same period.

The average U.S. round-trip ticket price in March 2022 was $540, a 41% increase from $382 in March 2021. The March 2022 average eclipsed pre-pandemic levels by 11%, when the average ticket price was $487. The last time this average was above $530 was in June 2015, when the average ticket price was $548.

March 2022 EMD sales increased 103% year over year to $11,739,523. EMD transactions increased 86% to 232,848 over the same period.**

More detailed information is available on ARC’s sales statistics page. 

*Ticket Sales

• Results are based on monthly sales data ending March 31, 2022, from 10,724 U.S. retail and corporate travel agency locations, satellite ticket printing offices and online travel agencies. Results do not include sales of tickets purchased directly from airlines.
• The average ticket price (USD) is for a round-trip ticket settled through ARC for an itinerary that included only U.S. domestic travel.
• Passenger trips include the total number of passengers taking a trip from one airport to another using direct or connecting flights. Newly issued trips are added, and refunded trips are deducted to provide a net view of traveling passengers.
• U.S. domestic passenger trips include the total number settled through ARC where the itinerary is wholly within the U.S. International passenger trips include the total number settled through ARC where some or all the travel occurs to airports outside the U.S. or originates outside the U.S.
• Total sales are equal to the total amount paid for a ticket, which includes taxes and fees.

**Electronic Miscellaneous Documents (EMD)

• Includes fees for products and services such as upgraded seats, checked bags, an unaccompanied minor, pet-in-cabin, etc.