News: Flight Centre lifts H1 profit, FY forecast

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Flight Centre Limited (ASX:FLT) has reported a 16 per cent lift in its first half net profit and upgraded its full year guidance. 

The travel agent generated a first half net profit of $81.6 million in the last six months of 2011.

In the same period sales from airline and accommodation bookings increased 9 per cent and EBITDA increased 13 per cent.



Managing director Graham Turner says growth of this magnitude is a sound achievement for a company of its size and given the economic uncertainty in some regions.



Looking ahead Flight Centre has upgraded its full year guidance and now expects its profit before tax to grow up to 22 per cent from the year before.



A fully-franked interim dividend of 41 cents per share has been declared.