topic Re: Flight Centre Closes 428 Stores in Community Spirit

Flight Centre Closes 428 Stores

icyfroth — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 07:00:34 GMT

Ailing travel firm Flight Centre will permanently close 40 per cent of its Australian stores by the end of July as the economic fallout from the deadly COVID-19 pandemic escalates.

In an announcement today, the company revealed the new closures were part of an effort to reduce annual costs by $1.9 billion.

It involves the closure of half its global shopfronts, and around 428 of Flight Centre’s 944 Australian stores.

Around 6000 support and sales staff have been stood down temporarily – or in some cases, made redundant – out of the company’s 20,000-strong workforce.

https://community.ebay.com.au/t5/forums/postpage/board-id/2500000007

I guess that was inevitable, seeing flights are grounded and borders closed across the world.

Re: Flight Centre Closes 428 Stores

k1ooo-slr-sales — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 09:36:07 GMT

that link is wrong.

icy, maybe post the link again

Re: Flight Centre Closes 428 Stores

halfgweilo — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 10:04:20 GMT

It doesn't surprise me as more and more savvy travellers are now booking direct. All travel agents are only but a convenience but not often the cheapest option. I believe in 3-4 years time there will be no more travel agents in Aust.

Re: Flight Centre Closes 428 Stores

icyfroth — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 10:23:44 GMT

@icyfroth wrote:
Ailing travel firm Flight Centre will permanently close 40 per cent of its Australian stores by the end of July as the economic fallout from the deadly COVID-19 pandemic escalates.

In an announcement today, the company revealed the new closures were part of an effort to reduce annual costs by $1.9 billion.
It involves the closure of half its global shopfronts, and around 428 of Flight Centre’s 944 Australian stores.

Around 6000 support and sales staff have been stood down temporarily – or in some cases, made redundant – out of the company’s 20,000-strong workforce.

https://community.ebay.com.au/t5/forums/postpage/board-id/2500000007

I guess that was inevitable, seeing flights are grounded and borders closed across the world.

erk what a mess

Re: Flight Centre Closes 428 Stores

icyfroth — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 10:26:46 GMT

@k1ooo-slr-sales wrote:
that link is wrong.

icy, maybe post the link again

Thanks for bringing that to my attention, Kloo.

https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/travel/coronavirus-australia-flight-centre-closes-428-stores-asks-for-700-million/news-story/afdf936a833561f34f917c84981aec9b

Re: Flight Centre Closes 428 Stores

davidc4430 — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 10:27:10 GMT

every travel agent will be closing i think

Re: Flight Centre Closes 428 Stores

bright.ton42 — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 10:27:46 GMT

@halfgweilo wrote:

It doesn't surprise me as more and more savvy travellers are now booking direct. All travel agents are only but a convenience but not often the cheapest option. I believe in 3-4 years time there will be no more travel agents in Aust.

But for those who aren't savvy travel agents can be a godsend. It's obvious why they've had to close, but so sad for them all.

Re: Flight Centre Closes 428 Stores

icyfroth — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 10:29:55 GMT

It's ok to book direct if it's simple itinerary, but where there are a lot of connections to be made, a travel agent is invaluable, and can save fares in the long run.

Re: Flight Centre Closes 428 Stores

bright.ton42 — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 10:41:42 GMT

Exactly my thoughts too icy, invaluable for say people like me. Not having travelled for years if I decided I would like to do a world tour of sorts

couldn't anyway cos of funds and a phobia of flying.... but just saying

I would welcome the options and advice from a travel agency as I wouldn't know where to start.

It's just horrible seeing these huge businesses fold they way they are and just makes the devastating destruction of Covid19 hit all the more harder.

Re: Flight Centre Closes 428 Stores

eol-products — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 11:32:42 GMT

I have heard of people booking direct and forgetting time zones