Travel Agents Set Air Ticket Sales Record

The results are in- ARC reports the welcomed news that the consolidated dollar value of airline tickets sold by U.S.-based travel agencies set a record in 2011. ARC reports an increase of 6.11 percent year-over-year compared to 2010 and 25 percent over 2009. Last year’s ticket sales totaled a record $82.1 billion, compared to $77.4 billion in 2010 and $65.8 billion in 2009.
 
Passenger segments in 2011 fell 2.9 percent – at 370.1 million segments, compared to 381.1 million in 2010 – while reflecting a 2.9 percent increase over 2009, ARC says. Ticket transactions in 2011 were down somewhat, at -2.09 percent compared to 2010, while 5.1 percent above 2009.
 
For December 2011, the consolidated dollar value of airline tickets sold by U.S.-based travel agencies increased 3.9 percent compared to December 2010, and 12.3 percent over the same period in 2009. Total December 2011 ticket sales were $4.9 billion, compared to $4.7 billion in 2010, and $4.4 billion in 2009.
 
December 2011 passenger segments fell 4.6 percent – at 28.1 million segments, compared to 29.5 million in December 2010 – while reflecting a 2.2 percent decrease over the same period in 2009. Ticket transactions for December 2011 were down, at -4.5 percent compared to the same period in 2010, while 1.7 percent below the same period in 2009.

Ticket sales results are based on sales data for 12 months ending December 31, 2011 from 14,052 U.S.retail and corporate travel agencies, online travel agencies, and satellite ticket printing offices, RC  notes.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. 

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