Flight Centre flying with 40pc profit

SYDNEY - Australian travel firm Flight Centre Ltd said today it expected its first-half profit in 2007/08 to rise about 40 per cent after a "relatively poor" period a year ago.

For the full year, pre-tax profit was expected to rise at least 15 per cent, Flight Centre chairman Bruce Brown told the annual meeting.

Flight Centre managing director Graham Turner told the meeting the company was experiencing healthy trading conditions for travel, due to a strong Australian dollar and the resources boom.

Flight Centre shares were trading up 3.5 per cent at A$25.17 ($30.71) in late morning trade.

- REUTERS