Flight Centre

Flight Centre, a global travel agency with Australian origins

Flight Centre is a travel agency that operates as the flagship brand of Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG), a company of Australian origin. Its activities include the sale of flights, accommodation, flight and stay packages, cruises, tours, car hire, travel insurance, foreign exchange and corporate travel services. The company presents itself as a comprehensive option for planning trips, with service in-store, online, by phone and via chat.

History and international expansion

The company's origins date back to 1973, when Graham Turner and Geoff Lomas bought a double-decker bus and ran their first tour through Spain, Portugal and Morocco. In 1975, the operator Top Deck was born in London and, the following year, in Brisbane (Australia). The Flight Centre brand opened its first stores in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in 1982. It later expanded to London (1984), New Zealand (1987), South Africa (1994) and Canada (1995). In 1995, the company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and in the 2010s adopted the name Flight Centre Travel Group.

The company notes that in 2020, with the closure of international borders and the grounding of airline fleets, it temporarily suspended trading on the ASX and stood down over 15,000 employees, as well as issuing over 1 billion Australian dollars in customer refunds. After that period, the company says it has resumed operations with an omnichannel structure.

Store network and team

Flight Centre has more than 450 stores and over 3,500 travel experts across Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and the United Kingdom. The company also employs part of its team remotely. According to the data it publishes, 65% of its experts hold tour and cruise accreditation, and more than 500 of them travel every year. The company states that 40% of its customers are new and that 50% of bookings are made online.

Products and services

Flight Centre's catalogue includes flights, stays, flight plus accommodation packages, tours, cruises, car hire, rail, travel insurance, foreign exchange, gift cards and a travel eSIM. The company also offers corporate and business travel services. Its publications include a travel blog and promotional materials. The company offers a loyalty programme called World360 Rewards, which allows account holders to manage their bookings and access offers and rewards.

Awards and market presence

Flight Centre presents itself as the largest retail travel agency in Australia and cites awards received in 2024 and 2025, including Australia's Leading Travel Agency 2025, Canada's Leading Travel Agency 2025, New Zealand's Leading Travel Agency 2025 and Oceania's Leading Travel Agency 2025, presented at the World Travel Awards. It also mentions the Australia's Most Trusted Travel Agency Award 2024, Feefo's Platinum Trusted Service Award 2023 and recognition as Most Outstanding Travel Agency Group at the NTIA awards 2023. The company states that more than 55 million people visit its websites each year and that 250 holidays are sold every hour.

Environmental and social commitment

The company declares it has planted more than 3 million trees to date and has a social responsibility programme called Flight Centre Foundation. It also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country in Australia.