September Demand Caps Off Record Third Quarter Sales and Passenger Trips

oday, Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC) released data showing U.S.-based travel agency air ticket sales totaled $8.7 billion in September 2025 — an 8% year-over-year increase and the highest monthly sales total for September recorded by ARC.*

Third-quarter air ticket sales and passenger trips reached $25.1 billion and 74.7 million, respectively. Both figures represent a 4% increase year over year and were record-high results for a third quarter.

Passenger trips issued through online travel agencies and leisure agencies in September increased 2% and 3%, respectively, year over year. Passenger trips issued through corporate travel agencies remained flat over the same period.

Results for September 2025 showed:

“Strength in pricing and passenger demand helped ARC-accredited agencies close out the third quarter at record levels,” said Steve Solomon, chief commercial officer at ARC. “This trend underscores sustained traveler confidence as well as the expanding vacation travel window into the fall as the industry prepares for the busy holiday travel season.”

NDC transactions accounted for 19.9% of the total ARC-settled transactions in September 2025 — up from 18.6% in September 2024. In September 2025, a total of 1,130 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 September 30, 2025, from 10,060 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 September 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 September 2025 under fare codes assigned to First Class, Business Class and Business Class Premium.