lastminute.com is cutting about a quarter of its staff, and its chief executive says most of that work will be doable by AI

lastminute.com, the Swiss-listed online travel group, announced on 17 June 2026 an "AI powered transformation" that it estimates will "reduce the Group's workforce by approximately 25% across multiple countries". The company gave no headcount. On the half-year results call on 30 July, chief executive Alessandro Petazzi explained which jobs and why: "We have basically reduced a number of roles, especially in areas which are particularly impacted by AI, meaning that the majority of the work of certain roles, in some cases already today, in some cases not today, but for sure in the foreseeable future, will be doable by AI." He listed the teams: "certain teams for software development, some certain areas of business analysis, various teams as well in terms of design", and customer service as well. Part of the cut is therefore anticipatory, by the company's own account: roles removed because AI is expected to do the work, not only because it already does. That is a different and more aggressive claim than most employers have been willing to make.