The consolidated dollar value of airline tickets sold by U.S.-based travel agencies increased 8.28 percent year-over-year in the first four months of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010, and 31 percent over the same period in 2009, ARC reports. January through April 2011 ticket sales totalled $29.2 billion in 2011, compared to $26.9 billion in 2010, and $22.3 billion in 2009.
Year-to-date passenger traffic for the first four months of 2011 fell 2.7 percent – at 116.4 million flyers, compared to 119.5 million in 2010 – while reflecting a 5 percent increase over the same period in 2009. Ticket transactions for January through April 2011 were down slightly, at -1.84 percent compared to the same period in 2010, while up 8 percent over the same period in 2009.
As of April 30, 2011, the top five domestic and international airport destinations for the next four months of travel, based on tickets purchased that include a Saturday night stay, are: Orlando, Las Vegas, Seattle/Tacoma, Los Angeles and Honolulu. International airports include Cancun, Heathrow, Montego Bay, Paris and Rome.
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