ARC Reports Air Sales Down – Again

The Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) report for March makes for gloomy reading, including a staggering 22.7 percent drop in total sales in March 2009 to $5.8 billion compared to March of 2008. Year-to-date total sales are also down 24.6 percent to $16.5 billion. With the exception of a 1.5 percent increase in the percent of e-ticketing (99.1 percent), all 11 categories reported by ARC are down. This includes international and domestic transactions and fares, and total fares.

Year-to-date declines are all double digit, topped by cash sales down 33 percent and international  fares down by 28.3 percent. Retail locations reporting totaled 16,848, as well as 1,137 satellite (STP) locations and 638 VTC (Verified Travel Consultants) locations. Average daily sales were $10,160.

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