Flight Centre Grows Profit as Corporate Travel Keeps Delivering

Flight Centre Travel Group said that it generated AU$124.6 million (US$88.0 million) in underlying profit before tax for the half year ended December 31, 2025.

That was 4 percent higher than a year earlier and better than market expectations for a mostly flat first half.

Statutory profit before tax was AU$86.6 million (US$61.1 million), or about AU$87 million (US$61.4 million). The result showed that Flight Centre is still growing, with corporate travel playing the biggest role in that performance.

Corporate travel was the main growth driver

The company said its corporate division delivered another record first half, helped by strong performances from FCM Travel and Corporate Traveller.

• Group total transaction value rose to AU$12.5 billion ($8.8 billion).
• Revenue reached around AU$1.4 billion ($988.4 million).
• Underlying EBITDA increased to AU$213 million ($150.4 million).

These figures show that Flight Centre was not only selling more travel, but also turning that activity into stronger earnings.

Management also pointed to better results across multiple regions. Australia and New Zealand remained the largest profit contributor, the Americas improved year over year, and Asia returned to profit after losses in the prior period.

Efficiency is becoming just as important as demand

A major theme in the results was productivity. Flight Centre said transaction value per employee across FCM and Corporate Traveller has risen by almost 20 percent since the first half of FY24. The company linked that improvement to automation, better workflows, and AI-supported tools that reduce routine work and give consultants more time to handle complex client needs.

AI and NDC are central to Flight Centre’s strategy

Flight Centre said it is expanding the use of AI across internal systems and customer-facing platforms, including the relaunch of Sam, its AI assistant in the FCM platform. The company said these tools are designed to automate simple tasks while letting consultants focus on more valuable work.

The company also said it is continuing to build its NDC capabilities. NDC is the newer airline distribution standard that can affect which fares and services appear in booking systems and how easily agencies can manage those bookings later.

Flight Centre expects momentum to continue in the second half

Flight Centre kept its FY26 guidance unchanged, with underlying profit before tax expected to reach AU$315 million to AU$350 million (US$222.4 million to US$247.1 million) for the full year.

Management also said January delivered record leisure profit and record leisure transaction value, giving the group confidence as it entered the second half.

The company also continued returning capital to shareholders. It declared a 12 cent fully franked interim dividend and said AU$126 million (US$89.0 million) of its planned AU$200 million (US$141.2 million) buyback had already been completed. It is also still targeting AU$85 million (US$60.0 million) in FY26 capital spending, mostly for systems and technology.

Companies are using AI not only to cut costs but to improve booking quality and traveler experience. Navan is applying AI to hotel search to remove duplicate listings and show clearer room options, highlighting how travel companies are investing in better data and smarter platforms as competition intensifies.

Photo by Spencer Plouzek on Unsplash