EXPEDIA Group on Thursday (Nov 2) announced a new share buyback plan of US$5 billion after posting a better-than-expected quarterly profit, as the online travel booking company benefited from resilient demand and higher rates that boosted margins.

Shares of the Vrbo and Hotel.com operator rose 10 per cent after the bell.

US travel companies in the last few months has seen a sharp rise in demand for international travel as people free from restrictions take advantage of a strong US dollar and flexible work arrangements to fly overseas for business and leisure.

An increase in bookings during the Independence and Labor day holiday weekend also lifted earnings for hotel operators and travel agencies in the third quarter.

It posted an adjusted profit of US$5.41 per share in the July-to-September period, compared with analysts’ estimate of US$4.93 per share, as per LSEG data.

Expedia’s total gross bookings across travel products rose 7 per cent from the year-earlier period to US$25.69 billion.

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Its quarterly revenue rose 8.6 per cent to US$3.93 billion, versus estimates of US$3.86 billion, as per LSEG data. REUTERS