ARC PROCESSES MOST TRANSACTIONS,HIGHEST DOLLAR VOLUME IN 33 MONTHS


Arlington, VA, April 15, 2004 - ARC today released operational statistics indicating it settled more transactions in March 2004 than it has in any month since June 2001. Total sales, domestic fares and international fares processed by ARC also reached their highest point in 33 months.

"Sales processed by ARC finished the first quarter of 2004 strong, following a period of stabilization and slight growth that began in the summer of 2003," said David R. B. Collins, CTC, ARC president and CEO.  "Comparing each month to the previous year, in March we saw the highest increase in total sales, international fares, and domestic fares that we have seen throughout this period."

Collins continued, "In addition to the increases in dollar volumes settled by ARC, we are encouraged by recent increases in the number of transactions processed. In March, an increase to 16,921,704 transactions represents the highest number of transactions for any month since June 2001."

Additionally, in March ARC-accredited locations completed a record high average volume of sales per week, breaking the high set the previous month and continuing a trend toward higher sales per location noted by ARC throughout the last year.

"ARC is pleased to support this period of steady progress in the travel industry by providing world-class transaction processing and settlement solutions," Collins added.  "We expect continued industry growth in the future and look forward to providing services to the companies driving that expansion."

ARC's current and archived monthly statistics are available at
http://www.arccorp.com/news/news_sales_doc_stats.html.

Note:ARC processing cycles include four-week months and five-week months. Each quarter is divided into two four-week months and one five-week month. March 2004 was a five-week month, as was June 2001.

About ARC
ARC is the premier financial transaction processing and settlement corporation that facilitates the distribution of travel products and related information in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.   There are more than 25,000 ARC-accredited travel agency and corporate travel department locations and approximately 135 participating airlines and railroads in ARC's settlement system.  Using increasingly sophisticated electronic means for ticket distribution, reporting, and remittance, these points of sale are responsible for air and rail sales exceeding $60 billion per year. For more information about ARC, please visit http://www.arccorp.com.