** Flight Centre Travel Group FLT.AX rises as much as 6.9% to A$12.94, highest since September 1
** Travel retailer targets FY26 underlying profit before tax of A$305 mln ($198.2 mln)-A$340 mln, 5.5%-17.6% above FY25
** Flags positive start to FY26, with Q1 total transaction value for corporate segment rising ~7%
** Says bookings from Australia to U.S. increased in October for first time since March quarter
** As of last close, FLT falls 27.4% YTD
($1 = A$1.5389)
(Reporting by Himanshi Akhand in Bengaluru)
((Himanshi.Akhand@thomsonreuters.com;))