Flight Centre Travel Group (ASX:FLT) announced its financial results for the first half of the 2026 fiscal year, reporting an underlying profit before tax of $124.6 million for the period ended Dec. 31 2025.
The figure represents a 4% increase over the $119.7 million adjusted UPBT recorded during the prior corresponding period, notably exceeding initial market expectations of a flat first-half performance.
Statutory profit before tax for the half stood at $87 million.
A primary driver of the result was a record total transaction value of $12.54 billion, marking a 7% increase year-on-year.
Revenue also climbed 6% to reach $1.408 billion.
Despite a $7 million net interest decline attributed to recent capital management initiatives, the company's underlying EBITDA grew by 9% to $213 million, outstripping profit growth rates.
Managing Director Graham Turner attributed the performance to disciplined cost management and significant productivity gains, particularly within the corporate sector.
The group achieved a record-low H1 cost margin of 9.6% and surpassed $1 million in productivity per full-time employee.
Leisure momentum also remained strong, bolstered by 10% TTV growth and a record profit in January.
Flight Centre reaffirmed its full-year guidance, targeting a UPBT between $315 million and $350 million.
Shareholders are set to receive an interim dividend of 12 cents per share, up from 11 cents in the previous year.
At the time of reporting, Flight Centre Travel Group's share price was $13.01.