The Flight Centre group has reported a 57.4 percent drop in profit for the first half of financial period 2008-2009, due in part to a slowdown in international travel.

Net profit for the travel company fell to $26.1 million, in comparison to its $61.2 million profit for the previous corresponding period.

Flight Centre’s managing director, Graham Turner, said the slowdown in global sales has continued in the first two months of 2009.