Corporate Travel Continued Downward Trend While Total Passenger Trips Remained Flat

Today, Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC) released data showing U.S.-based travel agency air ticket sales totaled $8.6 billion in May 2025 — a 5% year-over-year decrease.* May’s passenger trips settled by ARC reached 25.8 million.

Results for May 2025 showed:

Passenger trips issued through online travel agencies rose 8% year over year, while those issued by leisure and corporate agencies decreased 5% and 8%, respectively, over the same period.

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

NDC transactions accounted for 21.5% of the total ARC reported and settled transactions in May 2025 — up from 20.3% in May 2024. In May 2025, a total of 948 travel agencies reported NDC transactions.

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

*Ticket Sales  

• Results are based on monthly sales data ending May 31, 2025, from 10,147 U.S. retail and corporate travel agency locations 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 traveling 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.

**Average Economy Class Ticket Price

• Economy Class is defined as tickets for U.S. domestic travel purchased in May 2025 under fare codes excluding First Class, Business Class and Business Class Premium.

***Average Premium Class Ticket Price

• Premium Class is defined as tickets for U.S. domestic travel purchased in May 2025 under fare codes assigned to First Class, Business Class and Business Class Premium.