Webjet Group has announced the acquisition of Melbourne-based corporate travel tech company Locomote, in a $17 million deal that will see it rebranded as Webjet Business Travel and fast-track the group’s formal expansion into the business travel sector.
The deal, which includes an additional $6 million earn-out subject to performance targets, is part of Webjet’s FY30 Strategic Plan to double total transaction value in five years. Alongside international flight and hotel growth, business travel was identified as a key pillar.
CEO and Managing Director Katrina Barry said the acquisition provides rapid speed-to-market: “We are excited to announce the acquisition of Locomote, a strategic transaction that significantly accelerates our growth plan and positions Webjet Group to capture a greater share of the business travel market.
“Webjet Group currently services business travellers in an unstructured capacity and this acquisition will allow us to serve customers in a more structured way, particularly as their needs grow more complex,| she said.
What does Locomote bring to Webjet?
Founded in 2012, Locomote operates a fully developed, end-to-end business travel platform with its own mid-office and an AI roadmap, making it scalable and digital-first. Its FY25 transaction value was around $70 million.
All 30+ staff, including co-founder and CEO Ross Fastuca, COO Tass Messinis, and CTO Mario Rogic, are expected to remain, adding depth and expertise to Webjet Group’s capabilities in this space.
Barry said the deal followed “an extensive period of engagement and due diligence” and represents “meaningful strategic value” for shareholders.
“Our initial plan involved significant capital investment to organically develop our existing technology to meet business travel needs. The acquisition of Locomote, with its secure purpose-built technology, positions us to swiftly provide a distinct Business Travel offering, avoiding any lengthy development phase and at a lower overall cost,” said Barry.
How will this affect Webjet’s financials?
The acquisition is expected to be completed in the second half of FY26 and is not likely to materially impact Webjet’s FY26 results. Locomote is forecast to contribute positively to revenue for FY26, though transaction costs may reduce underlying EBITDA by $600,000–$900,000.
Alongside the acquisition, Webjet announced a $25 million on-market share buy-back program over the next 12 months, alongside plans to maximise franking credit distribution, including potential special dividends above its target payout ratio.
What’s next for Webjet Business Travel?
For Webjet, the rebrand marks a clear shift from serving business travellers “in an unstructured capacity” to providing a distinct, scalable offering aimed at mid-sized companies, those seeking cost-conscious, tech-led solutions without the overheads of a traditional TMC.
With the acquisition shaving three years off Webjet’s original development timeline, Webjet Business Travel is set to launch much earlier than planned, bringing both continuity through Locomote’s leadership and scale through Webjet’s resources.
KARRYON UNPACKS: Webjet’s acquisition of Locomote is more than a corporate deal; it reflects a pivot towards the increasingly important mid-market business and bleisure traveller. By integrating a purpose-built, AI-ready platform, Webjet signals that the future of corporate travel management will be faster, leaner and more digitally driven. For the Australian travel community, this deal illustrates how traditional leisure players are diversifying to meet evolving client needs, a trend advisors can’t afford to ignore.
