Passenger Trips Up 5% Year Over Year, Surpassing 25 Million

ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) released data showing U.S.-based travel agency air ticket sales total $9.8 billion in August 2026 — a 19% increase from August 2025, the previous highest recorded August total.* Passenger trips reached 25.8 million in August 2026, a 5% year-over-year increase.

Results for August 2026 showed:

“August’s totals set a new record for ARC-reported and settled sales, reflecting the continued strength of the U.S travel market and continued demand,” said Steve Solomon, ARC’s Chief Commercial Officer. “The strong summer trends from June and July carried into August, with travel to both U.S. domestic and international destinations remaining steady from the prior month and above 2025 levels.”

NDC transactions accounted for 21.5% of total ARC-settled transactions in August 2026, which is a 3% increase from the previous year. In August 2026, 1,221 travel agencies reported NDC transactions.

More detailed information is available on ARC’s sales statistics page.

About ARC:
ARC’s platform is the intelligence behind air travel, connecting the industry and powering commercial decisions for airlines and their partners. Our trusted services fuel airline retailing, with ARC processing over $100 billion in U.S.-based agency air sales annually. ARC leads industry collaboration between airlines, agencies, corporate buyers and other partners to enable a thriving industry ecosystem. For more information, visit arccorp.com.

Contact: 
ARC Media Team
media@arccorp.com

Notes:

*Ticket Sales        

• Results are based on monthly sales data ending August 31, 2026, from 9,879 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 August 2026 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 August 2026 under fare codes assigned to First Class, Business Class and Business Class Premium.

© Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC). All rights reserved.

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SOURCE Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC)