Did Flight Centre, Air New Zealand, or Qantas shares fly highest in FY25?

How did these ASX travel shares perform last financial year?

| More on:
Man sitting in a plane looking through a window and working on a laptop.

Image source: Getty Images

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More

Do you hold Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT), Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN), or Air New Zealand Ltd (ASX: AIZ) shares?

Let's take a look at how these three ASX travel shares performed in FY25.

Which ASX travel share provided the best returns in FY25?

In terms of share price growth, Qantas shares win

Let's start our assessment by reviewing share price growth for each of these ASX travel shares.

The Flight Centre share price fell 38% from its closing value of $20.18 on the last trading day of FY24 to $12.48 on 30 June 2025.

The Qantas share price leapt 84% from $5.85 per share on 28 June 2024 to $10.74 per share on 30 June 2025.

The Air New Zealand share price increased by 15% from 48 cents per share on 28 June 2024 to close out FY25 at 55 cents.

As my Fool colleague Bernd explains, Qantas benefited from strong domestic travel demand and increasing overseas travel in FY25.

Passengers were willing to pay historically high airfares to head overseas during the year.

Qantas also benefited from lower fuel costs amid global crude oil prices waning.

On dividends, Flight Centre shares win

What about income in FY25?

Over the FY25 period, Flight Centre paid an interim dividend of 30 cents per share in October 2024.

The travel agency then paid a final dividend of 11 cents per share in April 2025.

So, investors in this ASX travel share received 41 cents per share in annual dividends, plus full franking credits.

Qantas shares paid their first dividend since 2019 this year. The airline ceased dividend payments in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic.

Qantas paid an interim dividend of 16.5 cents per share plus a special dividend of 9.9 cents per share in April.

This totalled 26.4 cents in annual dividends with 100% franking for FY25.

Air New Zealand shares paid a final dividend of 1.374 AU cents per share in September 2024.

The airline stock then paid an interim dividend of 1.134 AU cents per share in March 2025.

That's a total of 2.51 cents per share in dividends with no franking credits.

So, in dollar value terms, Flight Centre shares win.

Of course, comparing trailing dividend yields is a much more relevant way to assess which ASX travel share delivered the best income.

Using the closing 30 June share prices to calculate the annual trailing dividend yields, Flight Centre shares still win.

Flight Centre shares have a 3.29% trailing dividend.

Qantas shares have a 2.46% trailing dividend.

Air New Zealand shares have a 0.05% trailing dividend.

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Flight Centre Travel Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

More on Travel Shares

A smiling woman in a hat holding a ticket takes selfie inside a Qantas plane next to the window.
Travel Shares

$10,000 invested in Qantas shares two years ago is now worth…

Atop share price gains, 2025 also saw the return of the Qantas dividend.

Read more »

Happy couple looking at a phone and waiting for their flight at an airport.
Travel Shares

Why I would buy Qantas shares in 2026

Qantas is no longer a turnaround story.

Read more »

Smiling woman looking through a plane window.
Travel Shares

Is this the best ASX 200 share to buy today?

This business has a lot of potential, according to many experts.

Read more »

A woman on holiday stands with her arms outstretched joyously in an aeroplane cabin.
Travel Shares

How Qantas shares could catch a welcome uplift in 2026

I think now could be an opportune time to buy Qantas shares. Here’s why.

Read more »

A smiling boy holds a toy plane aloft while a girl watches on from a car near an airport runway.
Travel Shares

Are Qantas shares a buy, hold or sell for 2026?

What's ahead for the airline this year?

Read more »

A smiling boy holds a toy plane aloft while a girl watches on from a car near an airport runway.
Travel Shares

ASX travel shares to watch in 2026

Could these travel shares lift off this year?

Read more »

A woman reaches her arms to the sky as a plane flies overhead at sunset.
Travel Shares

Should you buy Qantas shares for its 5% dividend yield in 2026?

After a strong recovery, Qantas shares now offer a 5% yield. Should income investors consider the airline for 2026?

Read more »

Paper aeroplane rising on a graph, symbolising a rising Corporate Travel Management share price.
Travel Shares

Here's the earnings forecast out to 2030 for Flight Centre shares

Is profit going to jump in the coming years?

Read more »