ARC: August Air Trips Highest Since Pandemic

The number of August U.S. air passenger trips reached more than 23.4 million, the highest level since before the pandemic, according to Airlines Reporting Corp. That figure represents a 7.9 percent increase year over year and 6.8 percent jump month over month.

The average price of a U.S. domestic roundtrip ticket in August declined for the third month in a row, settling at $514, about $14 lower than July’s average price. It also declined on a year-over-year basis by 2.3 percent.

“The positive travel trends for August matched what we’re hearing from the largest airlines regarding the strength of travel demand,” ARC managing director of data science and research Chuck Thackston said in a statement. “Travelers continue to take advantage of lower airfare, particularly in the U.S. domestic market.”

Total August U.S. agency air ticket sales increased 10.2 percent year over year to more than $8 billion. They also were up 6.1 percent month over month. U.S. domestic trips were up 5.6 percent year over year and 9.6 percent month over month to more than 15 million. The number of international trips jumped 12.4 percent year over year and 2.2 percent month over month to nearly 8.4 million.

August electronic miscellaneous document sales, which include fees for such ancillary products as upgraded seats and checked bags, increased 74.8 percent year over year to more than $24 million, but were down about 4.8 percent month over month. Ancillary transactions increased 52.1 percent versus August 2022 to more than 378,500, but were down about 4.7 percent month over month.

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