Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC) released data showing total passenger trips settled by ARC in December 2022 increased 23% year over year to 16 million. The results include a 57% increase in international trips and an 8% increase in domestic trips. ARC-accredited travel agency air ticket sales totaled $5.5 billion in December, a 76% year-over-year increase.

The average U.S. round-trip air travel ticket price was $531 in December, a 4.8% decrease from November 2022 ($558).

Month over month, December 2022 results showed:

• Total sales were down 16%.
• Total passenger trips decreased 15%.
• U.S. domestic trips decreased 18%.
• International trips decreased 10%.

“Travel purchases in December were significantly higher than last year, with international travel making the biggest comeback compared to 2021,” said Steve Solomon, chief commercial officer at ARC. “International travel will continue to grow in 2023, as many pandemic-era restrictions have finally been lifted. Fully vaccinated tourists can now visit nearly 200 countries without a COVID-19 test or quarantine.”

Ancillary sales increased 117% year over year to $15,656,487. Ancillary transactions increased 71% to 241,554 over the same period.

Ticket Sales

• Results are based on monthly sales data ending December 31, 2022, from 10,547 U.S. retail and corporate travel agency locations, satellite ticket printing offices 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 taking a trip 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.Ancillary sales Includes fees for products and services such as upgraded seats, checked bags, an unaccompanied minor, pet-in-cabin, etc.