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.
NDC accounts for 21.2% of ARC-settled transactions
NDC transactions made up 21.2% of total ARC-settled transactions in September, a 7% increase from the previous year. A total of 1,264 travel agencies reported NDC transactions during the month.
Data covers 9,863 agency locations, excluding direct airline sales
The results draw on sales data for the month ending September 30, 2026, from 9,863 U.S. retail and corporate travel agency locations and online travel agencies. They exclude tickets purchased directly from airlines. Total sales include taxes and fees, and passenger trips are net of refunds.