Trans-Tasman travel company Flight Centre is set to reopen 35 retail stores from hibernation with a nationwide recruitment drive planned to fill vacancies.

Flight Centre’s GM for Australia, Brent Novak, said the reopening will particularly help customers in regional areas who rely on face-to-face consultations for travel purposes.

“At a time when regional and suburban communities in Australia are witnessing services such as banking and telecommunications closing branches and becoming available only online, Flight Centre will continue to provide customers with the choice.”

He added the retailer will continue to focus on enhancing its customer channels instead of sacrificing its retail stores for online or call centre services.

“While we continue to enhance our online booking experience for customers, we know how vital it is to have real people in real buildings providing expert customer service with a human touch.”

The retailer is also on the lookout for travel agents as there are currently 179 travel consultant vacancies and 25 store team leader vacancies across the business.

Once the 35 stores are operational, the company will serve customers across 338 stores as well as online. Flight Centre stores in Brisbane’s Cleveland and Bulimba opened yesterday while the third store in Greenslopes will reopen on November 14.