Motley Fool Money Stocks In Focus: Flight Centre, November 19 2025
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Nov 19, 2025 Benny Ou, a Motley Fool analyst and the mind behind the Extreme Opportunities service, dives into the intricacies of Flight Centre’s business model. He explores how the company reinvented itself post-COVID and shifted to an omni-channel approach. Benny highlights the importance of founder leadership in expanding their corporate and luxury travel sectors. He discusses the risks from cyclical demand and geopolitical uncertainties, and the pressure on margins from evolving industry trends and AI competitors. Can Flight Centre navigate its challenges and hold its market value?
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Company Structure And Revenue Model
- Flight Centre is Australia's largest travel agent with both leisure retail stores and a large corporate travel division across 20+ countries.
- It earns commissions and service fees on total transaction value (TTV) and shifted toward an omni-channel, diversified model after COVID.
Near Collapse And Recovery
- Flight Centre nearly collapsed during COVID, raised capital twice and doubled its share count to survive.
- Management restructured the company and rebuilt it into a different, leaner business post-pandemic.
Founder Influence And Margin Strategy
- Founder-CEO Graham 'Screwed' Turner retains ~8% ownership and remains actively involved, preserving founder-led culture.
- Management is pushing into higher-margin segments like luxury, cruises and corporate travel to lift profitability.