Good news for travel agents and airlines. ARC is reporting a strong resurgence in sales in the first quarter of 2010. A recovery that first manifested itself in November of 2009 has continued and has reached its most favorable levels yet, ARC reports. International fares settled in March 2010 were 35.9 percent greater than the same month in 2009.
International fares and credit card sales settled in March were “off the charts” according to Allan Mutén, ARC’s director of strategic communications, noting that “ARC began dashboarding these numbers with 2006 sales. In fact, credit card sales were 30 percent over a year ago and the strongest March sales since 2001.”
“ARC’s strong sales and transaction volume is a testament to the strength and resilience of the agency sales channel and of our system,” says David Collins, Chief Executive Officer and President of ARC. Collins added that “this includes a strong, innovative, and diverse agency community, a global airline and rail industry, and a trusted and secure settlement system.”
Total sales reported hit $7,598,206,339, a 29.17 percent gain and $19,763,989,930 a 19.20 percent over March 2009. International fares hit $3,115,749,144 a 35.93 percent gain and $7,992,391,426 or 24.08 over last year.
Credit card sales were $6,825,983,250, a 30.47 percent gain and $17,759,070,709, a 20.87 percent gain. Domestic fares were $3,299,511,971, a 25.67 percent gain or $8,646,873,115 compared to last March: 16.48 percent.
Carriers reporting totaled 188, with retail locations reporting hit 15,650. STP locations totaled 917. The average daily sales reported was $13,982.
ARC publishes a dashboard of ARC-settled travel agency transactions (constituting the majority of all U.S. airline sales) on-line at http://www.arccorp.com/news/sales-document-statistics.jsp.
ARC information is updated monthly. Representing ticketed and settled transactions rather than the booked or lifted transactions typically found elsewhere, the ARC dashboard is an illustration of the travel agency channel sales for future travel. ARC’s data warehouse, ARC Compass, is a valued source for travel industry data and data-related products for the travel industry and the businesses that surround it.
Airlines, travel agencies, corporate travel departments, railroads, and other travel suppliers process up to $70 billion annually through ARC’s world-class settlement system, making it the financial backbone of travel distribution. ARC COMPASS, the leading, trusted source for travel transaction information, powers data and analytical tools that help ARC customers make confident business decisions.
Visit www.arccorp.com.