ARC’s latest ticket sales report confirms Americans continue to travel in record numbers despite higher airfares. But the data reflects only airline tickets issued by US-based travel agencies and should not be interpreted as a measure of inbound tourism, which continues to face headwinds from geopolitical concerns and shifting perceptions of the United States.
WASHINGTON, D.C – Americans are traveling in record numbers, according to the latest figures released by Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC). Yet the report should not be mistaken as evidence that international tourism to the United States is healthy.
In fact, the ARC report says nothing about the growing decline in foreign visitors to the United States—a trend many in the travel industry attribute to geopolitical uncertainty, stricter border perceptions, visa issues, and the political climate surrounding the Trump administration.
The distinction is critical.
ARC does not measure visitors coming to the United States. Instead, it tracks airline tickets issued by US-based travel agenciesmaking it one of the best indicators of Americans traveling—whether within the United States or abroad.
Americans Keep Flying
During the first six months of 2026, US-based travel agencies processed $58.8 billion in airline ticket sales through ARC, a 12% increase over the first half of 2025.
Passenger trips reached 158.5 millionup 4% year over year.
The breakdown includes:
- 98.9 million domestic trips (+4%)
- 59.6 million international trips (+3%)
- Average ticket price: $614 (+13%)
June alone continued the trend, with travel agency sales reaching $9 billionup 19% from June 2025. Passenger trips increased 4% to 24.2 millionwhile the average ticket price climbed to $629.
“Growth in both domestic and international trips through the first six months of the year shows air travel is still a priority,” said Steve Solomon, ARC’s Chief Commercial Officer. “The record-breaking mid-year 2026 totals reflect continued strong demand, with travelers adjusting to higher ticket prices and planning trips.”
Airlines Reporting Corporation
With leading business solutions built on high-quality data, ARC is the premier driver of air travel intelligence and commerce.
What ARC Measures—and What It Doesn’t
The ARC report is frequently cited as a barometer of the US travel industry, but its scope is much narrower.
ARC is the financial settlement company for airline tickets sold by travel agencies located in the United States. Its data reflects where tickets are issuednot where travelers originate.
An American purchasing a ticket from New York to Paris through a US travel advisor appears in ARC’s international statistics.
A German tourist booking a trip from Frankfurt to Orlando through a German travel agency does not.
Likewise, a Japanese family flying to Hawaii or a Brazilian visitor traveling to Miami is generally invisible in ARC’s reporting unless the ticket was issued through a US-based agency.
This means ARC provides an excellent snapshot of the strength of the American travel marketbut it is not a measurement of inbound tourism to the United States.
The Missing Story: International Visitors
That distinction matters more than ever.
While Americans continue to fill airplanes at record levels, the United States is facing a very different reality when it comes to attracting international visitors.
Tourism organizations, airlines, destinations, and hospitality businesses have increasingly expressed concern about weaker inbound demand from several overseas markets. Industry leaders point to a combination of factors, including changing geopolitical perceptions, visa delays, concerns about immigration and border procedures, a strong US dollar, and the international image of the United States under President Donald Trump’s administration.
The result is a growing imbalance.
Americans are traveling overseas in strong numbers, boosting tourism economies across Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, and Latin America.
At the same time, many destinations within the United States are working harder to replace international visitors who are choosing alternative destinations perceived as more welcoming or easier to enter.
None of those trends is reflected in ARC’s report.
Record Numbers—With Important Context
The ARC figures confirm that Americans remain willing to spend more on travel despite higher airfares. Domestic demand remains resilient, and outbound international travel continues to grow.
For airlines, travel agencies, and destinations serving American travelers, the numbers are encouraging.
For the broader US tourism economy, however, the report tells only one side of the story.
Confusing ARC’s ticketing statistics with overall tourism performance risks overlooking one of the industry’s biggest challenges in 2026: a slowdown in inbound international travel at a time when global tourism is otherwise experiencing robust growth.
Understanding the difference is essential. ARC measures how Americans buy airline tickets. It does not measure how attractive the United States has become—or ceased to become—as a destination for the rest of the world.
What is ARC Stand for?
Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC) provides airline ticket settlement, financial services, and data analytics for the US travel industry. The company processes more than $100 billion annually in airline ticket sales issued by US-based travel agencies and is widely regarded as a leading source of data on the US outbound travel market. More detailed information on this report is available on ARC’s sales statistics page.