‘Stop panicking’ about coronavirus, says Flight Centre founder Graham Turner

Anyone with any brains should not be worried about the virus, says Flight Centre boss.

Flight Centre managing director Graham Turner. Picture: Liam Kidston.

The nation’s most powerful travel executive, Graham Turner, the founder of the global travel behemoth Flight Centre, has called on governments and citizens to stop panicking about the coronavirus.

Mr Turner who has watched Flight Centre’s share price tumble from $40 a month ago to $20 said at more than 70 years of age he was more concerned about being locked into a lengthy quarantine than contracting the virus.

“I think anyone with any brains should not be worried about the virus. I am over 70 years, the mortality rates are very low. (But) people should be worried about the (lengthy) quarantine. The disease is not a problem,” said Mr Turner, who trained as a veterinarian before founding Flight Centre.

Referring to US President Donald Trump’s decision to lock down the US from Europeans, Mr Turner, who has operations in the domestic and corporate travel sector worldwide, said there had been some “strange” decisions made since the virus outbreak.

“It appears the Italians locking down the country is not working. One hopes no one else will do something like that,” Mr Turner, who overnight flew in from London via Singapore, told The Australian.

“The ‘experts’ said right from the start restricting travel is not working.”

Mr Turner said some travel companies will get through the coronavirus, but others will not make it. “The fit ones will survive, the others will not survive.”

Mr Turner said he had been through difficult situations like this before and no doubt it would happen again.

Flight Centre’s Asian corporate business was the worst affected for the group. Picture: Jack Tran

Flight Centre’s Asian corporate business was the worst affected for the group, but domestically leisure and corporate were not doing too badly. Flight Centre’s Middle East business had been significantly affected over the past week and while its UK, Europe and North America divisions had been affected that area was not as bad.

Mr Turner said the decision by Viking to temporarily suspend its river and ocean cruises until April 30 was brave adding that it was probably better for companies to stop operating than to run at a loss.

“My feeling is the worst will occur within the next month, but recovery will take some time.”

“This will go on for three to four months,” he added.

Flight Centre had not started any redundancy program, he said. It is presently relying on general attrition.