U.S. Agency Air Sales Hit $10.2B in September, Up 18%
Arlington – October 15, 2026 -- U.S.-based travel agency air ticket sales totaled $29.7 billion in the third quarter of 2026, up 18% from $25.1 billion a year earlier, according to Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) data.
September sales rise 18% while passenger trips grow 2%
Agency air ticket sales reached $10.2 billion in September 2026, an 18% increase from September 2025 and 4% above August. Passenger trips totaled 25.7 million, up 2% year over year. Sales growth therefore far outpaced growth in passenger volume.
Third-quarter trips climb 3.5% to 77.4 million
Agencies ticketed 77.4 million passenger trips in the quarter, a 3.5% increase from the same period in 2025. ARC Chief Commercial Officer Steve Solomon said demand held firm despite geopolitical uncertainty and inflationary pressure, and that passenger volume stayed steady as the summer season ended.