A recovery that first manifested itself in November of ’09 has continued and has reached its most favorable levels yet, as ARC reported total agency sales in March increased nearly 30 percent over the same period last year and the strongest March sales since 2001. ARC, which serves as the U.S. financial settlement engine and data depository for the airlines’ travel agency sales channel - online and retail - is reporting a strong resurgence in sales in the first quarter of 2010.

A recovery that first manifested itself in November of ’09 has continued and has reached its most favorable levels yet. International fares and credit card sales settled in March were “off the charts” according to Allan Muten, ARC’s director of strategic communications, noting that “ARC began dashboarding these numbers with 2006 sales. In fact, credit card sales were 30% over a year ago and the strongest March sales since 2001,” adds Muten.

Chief Executive Officer and President of ARC David Collins stated “ARC’s strong sales and transaction volume is a testament to the strength and resilience of the agency sales channel and of our system,” adding that “this includes a strong, innovative, and diverse agency community, a global airline and rail industry, and a trusted and secure settlement system.”