United States travel agencies recorded a historic milestone in 2025, reaching $100.4 billion in airfare sales, according to newly released data from the Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC). The figure represents a 1% year-over-year increase and marks the highest annual total ever reported by the organization.

The strong performance was capped by a solid finish in December, when airfare sales alone totaled $7.2 billion, reflecting a 7% increase compared to December 2024. ARC data confirms that U.S.-based travel agencies sold a record-breaking volume of airline tickets throughout the year, underscoring continued demand for air travel despite economic headwinds earlier in 2025.

Alongside revenue growth, ARC also reported a notable rise in passenger activity. Total air passenger trips increased by 3%, reaching 292.2 million trips for the year. International travel showed even stronger momentum, with trips climbing 4% year over year to 109.7 million, in line with airlines’ reports of robust global demand.

Domestic travel, initially affected by softer demand, also rebounded. At the start of 2025, U.S. airlines faced sluggish domestic bookings, particularly in economy cabins, as cost-conscious travelers delayed leisure trips amid concerns over tariffs and broader economic uncertainty. However, demand recovered toward the end of the year, allowing domestic trips to grow by 2%, reaching 183.2 million trips in total.

“It was a monumental year for air travel in 2025, with the industry showing its resilience and healthy demand helping U.S. travel agencies reach new heights,” said Steve Solomon, Chief Commercial Officer at ARC. “After a strong December finish, the air travel industry has momentum heading into 2026, with global events and major celebrations expected to translate into air travel growth across both international and U.S. markets.”

December 2025 alone saw 20.4 million passenger trips, also up 7% year over year, reinforcing the sector’s strong recovery in the final stretch of the year.

Looking ahead, the U.S. travel industry anticipates continued growth in 2026, driven by major global and national events, including the FIFA World Cup, the 250th anniversary of the United States, and the 100th anniversary of Route 66, all expected to generate significant increases in inbound and domestic air travel.