Travel Agent Air Sales Up 6 Percent

ARC reports gains in the consolidated dollar value of airline tickets sold by U.S.-based travel agencies. The increase of 6.3 percent year-over-year in the first eleven months of 2011 compares to the same period in 2010 and 26 percent over the same period in 2009.

January through November 2011 ticket sales total $77.2 billion, compared to $72.6 billion in 2010, and $61.4 billion in 2009, ARC said.  The totals do not include sales of tickets purchased directly from airlines.

The results are based on sales data ending November 30, 2011 from 14,136 U.S. retail and corporate travel agencies, satellite ticket printing offices and online travel agencies.

Total sales are equal to the total amount paid for a ticket, which includes taxes and fees. Year-to-date passenger segments for the first eleven months of 2011 fell 2.7 percent – at 341.9 million segments, compared to 351.6 million in 2010 – while reflecting a 3.3 percent increase over the same period in 2009.

Ticket transactions for January through November 2011 were down slightly, at -1.9 percent compared to the same period in 2010, while 5.6 percent over the same period in 2009, ARC reports.

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