Agent Air Sales Up 6 Percent

ARC reports that the consolidated dollar value of airline tickets sold by U.S.-based travel agencies increased 6.24 percent year-over-year in the first ten months of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010, and 26 percent over the same period in 2009.

ARC said January through October 2011 ticket sales totaled $71.1 billion, compared to $66.9 billion in 2010, and $56.2 billion in 2009.

Year-to-date passenger segments for the first ten months of 2011 fell 2.7 percent – at 313.6 million segments, compared to 322.3 million in 2010 – while reflecting a 3.5 percent increase over the same period in 2009, ARC reports.

Ticket transactions for January through October 2011 were down slightly, at -1.9 percent compared to the same period in 2010, while slightly over 5.5 percent over the same period in 2009.

Ticket sales results are based on sales data ending October 31, 2011 from 14,812 U.S. retail and corporate travel agencies, satellite ticket printing offices, and online travel agencies. It does not include sales of tickets purchased directly from airlines. Total sales are equal to the total amount paid for a ticket, which includes taxes and fees, ARC notes.

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