The consolidated dollar value of airline tickets sold by U.S.-based travel agencies increased 10.68 percent year-over-year in the first quarter of the year compared to 2010, which represents a 32 percent increase over the same period in 2009, according to a report released on Monday by ARC.
The report, which was based on sales data from 15,324 U.S. retail and corporate travel agencies, satellite ticket printing offices, and online travel agencies, also showed that the year’s first quarter ticket sales totaled $21.8 billion, compared to $19.7 billion in 2010, and $16.5 billion in 2009.
However, year-to-date passenger traffic for the first quarter was down slightly – at 86.2 million flyers, compared to 87.6 million in 2010 – while reflecting a 5.9 percent increase over the same period in 2009.
In addition, ticket transactions for the first quarter of remained nearly flat, at -0.30 percent compared to the same period in 2010, while up 11 percent over the same period in 2009.
Of the top 10 busiest airports in the United States, the report said John F. Kennedy International in New York continued its growth this year, leading passenger traffic volume year-over-year by posting a 7.38 percent increase for January-March compared to the same period in 2010.
Overall year-over-year passenger traffic volume for the top 10 busiest airports in the United States, on average, was slightly down at -2.19 percent, according to ARC.
Other top 10 U.S. airports and their volume changes include: San Francisco International (-0.39 percent), Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (-1.77 percent), Los Angeles International (-2.13 percent), Houston George Bush Intercontinental (-0.76 percent), Denver International (-4.66 percent), Las Vegas McCarran International (-5.18 percent), Chicago O’Hare International (-4.54 percent), Phoenix Sky Harbor International (-2.68 percent), and Dallas-Fort Worth International (-7.21 percent).
ARC is a financial settlement link between airlines and travel sellers with more than 16,000 travel agencies and 190 airlines using the company’s transaction settlement services that, in 2010, totaled more than $77 billion in value.
