ARC: August sales down 16.8%

Airline ticket sales through Arlington, Va.-based Airlines Reporting Corp. fell 16.8% in August compared to the year-ago period to $5.16 billion while the volume of total transactions was down 1.7%. Figures represented a very slight sequential decline compared to the performance in July, when transactions were off less than 1% year-over-year and sales decreased 16.7% (ATWOnline, Aug. 14). Total fares, excluding taxes and fees, dropped 17% to $4.38 billion in August compared to August 2008. Domestic fares fell 15.6% to $2.42 billion on a 1.7% decline in transactions and international fares were down 18.6% to $1.96 billion, also on a 1.7% decrease in transactions.

Separately, French airline Aigle Azur joined ARC, becoming the 182nd member. It was brought in by APG-Global Associates through the ARC ASP Coordinator Program developed jointly by ARC and APG USA to facilitate the entry of airlines into ARC.