Online booking platform Lastminute.com.au announces shutdown after 25 years
Online travel booking platform Lastminute.com.au has announced it will officially shut down after 25 years.
The site, now owned by Expedia, will not take any new bookings beyond June 2 and will be completely shut down by November.
In a message on the website, the company said: "We have made the decision to close the Lastminute.com.au website and app."
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Lastminute.com.au has announced it will officially shut down after 25 years. Lastminute.com.au
Until May 15, 2026, customers will be able to continue to book hotels, flights, car hire, packages and activities via the site and the app for travel within the next nine months.
However, after that date, bookings can only be made for travel that will be completed by November 1, 2026.
The company went on to assure current customers that the announcement "will not affect any existing bookings".
Customers will still be able to modify or cancel reservations until they have completed their bookings.
"Once all trips have been completed and serviced, we will shut down access to your Lastminute.com.au account (if you have one) and you will no longer be able to access your booking history or the Lastminute.com.au website and app," the company advised.
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Travellers will be redirected to Expedia. Getty
Lastminute.com.au was originally founded in 2000 as the Aussie arm of popular UK travel site Lastminute.com.
It was eventually purchased by Brisbane-based Wotif Group, before Wotif was then bought out by US travel giant Expedia in 2014.
"We regularly review our products, solutions, and portfolio of brands to continue improving our travellers' experiences," a spokesperson for Expedia Group told Nine.com.au.
"We believe that our travellers will receive the best experience on Expedia, and we are working directly with them to ensure this is a seamless transition."
Travellers will now be redirected to Expedia.
"Beginning 2nd June 2026 all new booking activity will be directed to Expedia, part of our family of brands along with Lastminute.com.au," the website reads.
"Expedia is where you can find and book your ideal holiday with the same ease and options you are used to with Lastminute.com.au."
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