Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) has published data showing US travel agency air ticket sales of $9.6bn in March 2023, a 22% "year-over-year increase" and the largest monthly figure recorded by the corporation.
"March 2023 sales and passenger trip totals followed typical month-over-month trends and were boosted by a robust increase in international travel demand from the comparable prior year period," ARC said in a statement accompanying the data.
Sales increased 15% month-on-month, ARC said, with passenger trips up 15% to 25.8 million.
Fares were up 4% annually and 2% compared to February, reaching an average of $559, according to ARC.
“ARC’s air travel ticket data supports what we’re hearing from airlines regarding strong spring and summer demand for both corporate and leisure travel,” said Steve Solomon, chief commercial officer at ARC.
“A larger portion of the summer demand is for top European destinations like London, Paris and Rome, which are showing significant year-over-year increases in air travel ticket purchases from US travellers," Solomon explained.