“From the beginning, our purpose was to open South Africa to the world and to help citizens embrace their newfound freedom after the first democratic elections,” says Andrew Stark, FCTG Managing Director Middle East and Africa.

For the past 25 years, FCTG has been proud to walk alongside South Africans on their journeys of self-discovery, he says. “From seasoned travellers who have been with us since the start, to those who are just beginning to explore the world, we remain as committed as ever to introducing every South African to affordable travel.”

Within two years of the first store opening, Flight Centre’s network had grown to 10 local stores and the company was breaking even. “When Nelson Mandela left office in 1999, we were posting healthy profits that we reinvested back into the market to keep organically growing the business,” says Stark.

“Today FCTG South Africa has a total transaction value above R7-billion, 700,000 travellers and has brands who are now a proud level-1 BEE company.” Despite tough economic conditions, Stark says the group ended the

2019 financial year with double-digit growth in sales. “The new financial year has started off well because our core brands are trusted and well-positioned in the market,” says Stark. The group’s four leading brands, Flight Centre, Cruiseabout, Corporate Traveller and FCM, all reported growth. The company has a 20% overall market share and is a Platinum winner in Deloitte’s Best Company to Work For survey.

The company attributes its ongoing success to its ‘blended’ travel strategy, which Stark explains is “the perfect mix of technology and human support… allowing the customer to choose how they wish to interact with us, be it online or in a traditional retail shop. Our customers are our number one priority; we will never leave a customer stranded.”

He adds: “Harnessing technology, innovating and engaging with customers on how they want to be approached has allowed us to reach new traveller markets. We are always striving to foster a culture of travel with all South Africans, ensuring that our offering is meeting the customer needs.”

The group’s annual Travel Expo, returning for its tenth year in 2020, has become a highlight on the travel calendar for those prospective travellers looking to snap up incredible deals. “Our Travel Expo next year will be bigger and better than ever before. Watch this space,” says Stark.

Flight Centre Stokvel, a saving platform that allows customers the opportunity to gradually save up for a trip, was launched at Travel Expo in 2018. The product aims to make travel accessible to all South Africans, irrespective of income and demographic. Over 500 clubs have since been signed up to date.

Earlier this month, the group became the first travel retailer in the country to launch an online travel series, aimed at the young, first-time traveller. The series, called Hamba Nathi, will be aired on Flight Centre’s YouTube channel and will follow three young, local micro-influencers as they travel for the first-time.

“Our aim for the next 25 years is to continue to grow our business and employ more people to become Africa’s greatest travel and technology experience company by 2030,” says Stark. “We will continue to deliver streamlined travel experiences to all South Africans in a hybrid manner; whether they wish to engage with our brands online or through people. The future is very exciting.”

Find your nearest Flight Centre store or shop online here. For cruising, visit cruiseabout.co.za.

Corporate travellers can turn to any of FCTG’s three corporate travel brands: FCM Travel Solutions, Corporate Traveller or Flight Centre Business Travel.

“The Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) Brighter Futures programme brings together everything we do as a company under one central element,” says Roxy Gonsalves, Recruitment Business Leader, who will head up the project in South Africa.

“Building brighter futures where we live, work and travel is one of the group’s most significant philosophies,” says Gonsalves. “The programme will make sure FCTG has an impact and will bring this philosophy to life.”

The group’s existing CSI projects will also fall under the FCTG Brighter Futures umbrella.

The Flight Centre Foundation has been focussed on empowered giving. Associated projects, such as #kili4kids, the SolarBuddy solar lights initiative with the Adopt a School Foundation and Workplace Giving, encouraging Flight Centre employees to donate towards a CSI initiative, remain ongoing.

“We also take part in standalone CSI initiatives, such as Mandela Day. This year, Flight Centre stores nationwide got involved in making 101 items or giving 101 minutes of their time, due to the fact that Nelson Mandela would have celebrated his 101st birthday this year,” says Gonsalves. “Stores from across the country created care packs, collected 101 sanitary towels for teenage girls and deodorant for boys and made food parcels, amongst many other initiatives.”

Brighter Futures has partnered with the Adopt a School Foundation to work on more education and school projects.

“Andrew Stark, FCTG Managing Director Middle East and Africa believes education is so important in South Africa and, as a company, we wanted to partner with an organisation that feels the same,” says Gonsalves.

“The Adopt a School Foundation has a massive footprint just like us. We have worked closely with them in the past on various initiatives, such as our ongoing project at Qhobosheane Primary School in Soweto. #kili4kids and other events raise funds for the building of a library at the school.

“More collaborative socio-economic projects will be released later in the year,” says Gonsalves.

Events include a quiz night on September 6, 2019 at Randpark Ridge, with all proceeds being donated to the Qhobosheane Primary School library project.

A fundraiser movie night has also been planned on October 12. The beneficiaries and details will soon be confirmed.

Worldwise is now the second pillar in the FCTG Brighter Futures programme, and its focus is on responsible travel. Their work ensures that the group does not support activities such as elephant riding, Gonsalves explains. Tour routes and itineraries worldwide have already been changed to promote responsible travel, she notes.

FCTG People, the third pillar, is building brighter futures through egalitarianism and unity.

“The personal and professional development of our people will always be our number one goal to building brighter futures,” says Sam van Gool, Flight Centre Travel Group Peopleworks Leader. “Our diversity across the board, 74% of females in senior management roles, fast track leadership development opportunities and the Flight Centre Business School all firmly empower and inspire our people towards success.”

 FCTG Environmental Sustainability is the fourth pillar.

“We aim to make our daily operations as environmentally friendly as possible by reducing, recycling and re-using everything from coffee cups to thinking about how much paper we use,” Gonsalves concludes.

The Flight Centre Foundation website will soon be revamped. For details on all events and projects of FCTG Brighter Futures, visit the website at: http://fcfoundation.org.za/

“We will ensure that every single Flight Centre Travel Group customer who is affected by the sudden closure of United Europe is looked after, because they entrusted us, as a reputable travel company who has served millions of people over the past 25 years, with their hard-earned savings for their dream holiday.

“In these difficult economic times, it is imperative that travellers put their trust in reputable travel companies that have the financial backing. Our team has been working diligently since Friday afternoon 21 June to re-accommodate several stranded travellers left out of pocket. The cost to Flight Centre Travel Group is substantial and will run into millions of rands,” says Andrew Stark, MD for FCTG MEA.

Andrew’s career at FCTG began more than 13 years ago, as a travel consultant. His rise through the ranks is described as phenomenal, working as a consultant and Team Leader and later heading up his own Flight Centre retail outlet.

Andrew’s real passion however lies in helping people reach and exceed their potential. He graduated from the USB Senior Leader Development Programme and obtained several coaching accreditations. In 2016 Andrew became the Business Leader for the Sales & Leadership Academy and he launched the FC Business School in 2018.

Andrew has ambitious plans to grow the FCBT brand in the South African market. “My vision for FCBT is to be the most exciting South African corporate travel brand, delivering an amazing experience to our people, customers and partners. This will result in doubling the business by 2022 and being the TMC of choice in the South African SME travel market,” he says.

“People are at the heart of FCTG’s philosophy: We care about our people’s personal and professional development. In my new role, I want to create an environment that ensures that our people are continually growing. This growth encompasses system expertise, business acumen, leadership skills and customer experience ability.

“I am incredibly excited to be once again involved with this dynamic brand. It has a unique culture and a specialised approach to business, all supported by phenomenal people at all levels of the business.”

Andrew Stark, Flight Centre Travel Group Managing Director Middle East and Africa, welcomed the appointment. He said: “I have every confidence in Andrew’s ability to drive and initiate new business strategy and vision to the FCBT brand as a whole. His can-do attitude, professionalism and unwavering passion for the FCBT brand make him the Flightie of choice!”

“FCTG’s corporate brands have been hugely successful. However, there is still significant opportunity for growth in new business acquisition, which is why we have decided to re-engineer our sales structure,” says Andrew Stark, MD FCTG Middle East and Africa.

“We foresee healthy growth ahead in the entire corporate sector, from small to medium and large enterprises. A combination of technology, world-class reporting and skilled travel managers will help drive our ambitious corporate growth plans in the corporate travel sector.

“For the past two and a half years, Lloyd has excelled at FCM Travel Solutions as head of Sales for the Middle East and Africa. He has re-written the history books in various aspects, and has added many prestigious clients to the FCM portfolio.”

Lloyd started his career in 1989 with South African Airways and has worked within a number of travel-related industries over the past 25 years including hospitality, connectivity providers and travel management.
He successfully completed the Top 34 Leadership Programme after having obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Leadership through the University of Stellenbosch Business School. Lloyd also obtained a Mini Marketing MBA with Professor Mark Ritson.

Lloyd will support the relevant corporate brand leaders in growing the company’s overall new business. “I would like to congratulate Lloyd in his new role and wish him a successful career at the helm of corporate sales,” concludes Andrew.

The company has also paid out R650 000 to black female employees as part of the Employee Share Scheme, which owns 30% of FCM Travel Solutions.

“Following very successful two years for FCM, we were able to distribute R650 000 among 17 employees who have worked for the company for at least three years and are part of the group’s Employee Share Scheme. At the same time, the company is also pleased to announce that we have achieved a Level 1 BEE rating,” says Nicole Adonis, FCM Travel Solutions South Africa General Manager.

By 2022, FCM expects there will be more than 50 senior long-serving employees participating in the shareholder scheme, Adonis adds. “BEE and transformation go hand in hand with our founding principles of fairness, egalitarianism and unity. As our brand grows, members of this programme will derive direct benefits, which in turn will translate into benefits for our customers.”

Flight Centre Travel Group Managing Director, Middle East and Africa, Andrew Stark, says a large number of employees will benefit. “As visionaries in the travel industry, we want to truly live up to the idea of broad-based black economic empowerment,” he adds.

FCM Senior Account Manager Lynette Msomi, a beneficiary of the trust, says the transformation at FCM since she started working at the company in 2005 has been noticeable.

“When I first joined the Flight Centre Travel Group, I was one of just three black people in the company… I decided to leave but after two years, I came back to find a huge difference. Not only were there more black employees but we were also being taken seriously,” she says.

Msomi says one of the signs that shows the change in culture of the business is the share scheme. “It speaks to a company which is finally taking notice of the country it is trading in. It’s awesome and makes it exciting to be able to work in this space.”

FCM Team Leader in Sandton, Rategang Moroke, says, for her, the share scheme means having a say and influencing the running and results of the business. “It’s a sense of ownership and empowerment,” she maintains.

Recent reports circulating in media and on social media suggest that the South African Revenue Service (SARS) has instituted a new requirement for South African residents to register such items as personal laptops, iPads, cellphones, golf clubs, cameras and other high-value items that travellers could take overseas on their travels.

“This is actually not a new requirement. In fact, it was policy in the past for all goods to be registered before departure and a DA65 form issued. This was phased out many ago and now only applies for commercial cargo,” explains Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) Middle East and Africa Managing Director, Andrew Stark.

“We have received confirmation from SARS that “no traveller can be penalised for notvdeclaring or registering their personal effects upon leaving the country”, but SARS does state that the traveller could be challenged by a Customs officer to provide proof of local purchase or ownership.

“To ensure there’s no confusion or inconvenience, Flight Centre would urge especially frequent travellers to register their personal possessions at customs.”

According to Stark, it is a fairly easy process which requires travellers to present themselves for Customs inspection before continuing through international security and passport control.

“In South African international airports, this customs desk is in international departures. It also takes just a few minutes to register. Travellers will need to hand their passports to the customs official, provide their flight number and then the item’s type, e.g. iPhone 7 and serial number.

“The information is captured online and valid for a period of six months, so if you travel again within this time period with the same items, your TC-01 (Traveller Card) will cover you for the re-importation of your goods. You will receive a printed copy to retain as proof of your registration.”

According to SARS, if the traveller can furnish proof through an invoice, an insurance record or even content (in the case of a laptop), the customs officer can use his discretionary powers to satisfy that proof without having to secure a TC-01.

Failure to furnish proof will result in the item(s) being detained until proof of local purchase or ownership can be established. Alternatively, the traveller will have to pay duty and VAT, as well as possible penalties.
“For frequent travellers, a quick 10-minute registration can save you hours of time and inconvenience so it makes sense to get to the airport earlier and declare your items,” says Stark.

“Flight Centre will also endeavor to obtain further clarification on this matter from our tourism minister. It is our role to promote ease of travel for all South Africans,” concludes Stark.

Where to register?

Cape Town International Airport

Located on the Departures level, if facing the check-in desks and security, turn left at
the top of the escalators and walk towards the airline ticketing counters. The customs
desk is located around the corner from the VAT declaration desks.
OR Tambo International Airport

Customs is located in Terminal 2 Departures, about half-way along the hallway in
which all the airline check-in desks are located.
King Shaka International Airport

At King Shaka International, customs is located just behind the check-in counters in
the International Departures hall.