WASHINGTON -- Travel agents posted $6.38 billion in sales through
ARC in July, up 8% over July 1999, according to ARC statistics.
Domestic fares (sales less taxes and fees) represented 65.6% of
total fares and reached $3.84 billion, up 5%.
The domestic commission outlay represented 43.5% of total
point-of-sale commissions, and plunged 32% to nearly $157 million
as the average commission rate fell from 6.27% in July 1999 to
4.08%.
On the international side, fares represented 34.4% of all fares
at nearly $2.02 billion, a jump of 15%.
International point-of-sale commission dollars accounted for
56.5% of the pay outlay at nearly $204 million, down 12%, as the
average commission rate fell from 13.25% to 10.10%.
Ticket taxes and fees accounted for $525 million of the sales
volume, up 6%. The figures reflect sales by 40,779 full-service and
satellite ticket printer agency locations on 136 airlines, three
railroads and a handful of diverse other suppliers.