Coronavirus fallout claims Flight Centre

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Travel agency the Flight Centre has closed the doors to its Gisborne retail office for good.

Flight Centre New Zealand managing director David Coombes last month said the ASX-listed company made the “incredibly difficult decision” to stand down over 300 people, closing 58 retail stores across the nation.

However, Flight Centre confirmed the Gisborne store will not re-open. No further details were available.

“People are the heart and soul of our company and we are gutted that it has come to this,” Mr Coombes said when announcing the stand-down measure last month.

“Our people are eligible for the Covid-19 Government Wage Subsidy and we are also working hard to find alternative income sources for them while they are stood down.

“In making these changes, we are committed to ensuring that we do not adversely impact our corporate and leisure customers,” said Mr Coombes.

“Our priorities have been to help our customers rearrange their future plans and to repatriate travellers who have been stranded overseas.”