Lastminute shares drop after complaints

Shares in Lastminute.com fell back sharply yesterday, seemingly because a series of complaints were reported on the BBC Watchdog television programme. Shares in the online travel company, which have climbed from a low of 77p to a high of 315p earlier this month, dropped 10.25p to 300p yesterday. In early trading today, shares in the company fell a further 32p to 268p. According to a report in the Daily Telegraph, one couple complained to the television show after their trip to New York was ruined. They told reporters that their flight had been cancelled and they were put on to an earlier flight without being told. The newspaper states that the company had previously assured customers that such cases would become “isolated incidents”. Nobody from Lastminute.com was available to comment at the time of going to press.