Flight Centre Travel Group, The Americas | 11,174 followers on LinkedIn. Navigate your Career. Explore the World. | Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) is one of the world’s largest travel companies, employing 13,000 like-minded individuals – colloquially known as ‘Flighties’ - across 32 countries. Our story dates to 1973, when our founder Graham Turner (aka “Skroo") and friend Geoff “Spy” Lomas buy a double-decker bus and take off on their first tour around Spain, Portugal and Morrocco, 3 years later forming the first business, Top Deck. After flight deregulations in the 80s our first retail "Flight Centre" stores opened in Australia in 1982, London in 1984, and New Zealand in 1987. 1987 was also the year we held our first “Global Gathering”, our infamous awards event celebrating our amazing people, a tradition that continues to this day.