ARC, the financial settlement link between airlines and travel sellers, reported today that the consolidated dollar value of airline tickets sold by U.S.-based travel agencies increased 7.22 percent(*) year-over-year in the first half of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010, and 30 percent over the same period in 2009. January through June 2011 ticket sales totalled $44 billion, compared to $41 billion in 2010, and $34 billion in 2009.

Year-to-date passenger segments for the first half of 2011 fell 2.4 percent - at 184.3 million segments, compared to 188.8 million in 2010 - while reflecting a 5 percent increase over the same period in 2009. Ticket transactions for January through June 2011 were down marginally, at -1.63 percent compared to the same period in 2010, while up 7 percent over the same period in 2009.