STA Travel
A travel-services brand focused historically on student, youth and independent travel.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
STA Travel is a travel-services brand whose roots lie in student travel and whose historical business combined retail travel agencies, online booking and specialist travel products. The name originated in Australia and was initially associated with Student Travel Australia, later being expanded as Student Travel Association and subsequently presented as the retronym “Start The Adventure.” Its customer base historically included students, young travellers and people taking gap years, although the company later broadened its offer and demographic reach. The business traces its institutional origins to student-union travel services in Australia. AUS Student Travel developed from travel functions associated with the National Union of Australian University Students and the Australian Union of Students. After AUSST encountered financial difficulties in 1977, Edward Keller of Zurich acquired the business in 1979 through Stewart Moffat Travel. The resulting organisation traded as Student Travel Australia and subsequently as STA Travel. Richard “Dick” Porter, working with Gregor Macaulay, helped establish and expand the brand; Porter later served as chief executive for almost three decades and was closely associated with STA Travel’s development into a large international student-travel agency. At its peak before the 2020 crisis, STA Travel operated as a global travel supplier serving customers through online channels and approximately 200 retail stores worldwide, with nearly 2,000 employees. Its activities included air travel, accommodation, tours, travel insurance and other travel-related services. Through the BUNAC brand, the wider business also arranged working holidays and volunteering programmes. In 2010, STA Travel acquired Bridge the World, a move intended to reach an older and more affluent segment beyond its traditional student audience. The company also formed destination-marketing partnerships. In 2013 it entered agreements with Tourism New Zealand and Tourism Australia to promote travel to those countries. Its responsible-travel policies evolved during the 2010s: in 2014 it stopped selling escorted tours that included elephant rides. Its marketing remained destination-led, including a 2018 video featuring the band Skinny Living and showcasing travel in the United States. STA Travel’s international structure was severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting collapse in travel demand. On 20 August 2020, STA Travel Holding AG, the Swiss parent company, filed for insolvency. The United Kingdom subsidiary entered administration and ceased trading the following day, affecting 52 shops and approximately 500 jobs. The Australian and New Zealand businesses also entered external administration, while the South African operation closed shortly afterward. The Australian business was liquidated, with court-approved arrangements allowing certain eligible customers to receive refunds after applicable cancellation and liquidation costs. The German business followed a different path. In December 2020, STA Travel branches in Germany were taken over by New Travel Reisebüro Vertrieb, while the STA Travel name was retained as a travel brand. As of March 2025, STA Travel is described as a brand of Explorer Travel GmbH, based in Düsseldorf. It therefore continues in a substantially smaller and more geographically limited form than its pre-pandemic international operation.
History
STA Travel developed from student-travel services connected with Australian university organisations. The National Union of Australian University Students, established in 1937, had facilitating student travel among its objectives. A travel function later operated through the Australian Union of Students under the name AUS Student Travel, or AUSST. After AUSST became insolvent in 1977, it continued trading under a Victorian Supreme Court-approved scheme of arrangement until the business was sold and a successor entity was established. In 1979, Zurich-based businessman Edward Keller acquired the business using Stewart Moffat Travel as the vehicle for the transaction. The successor organisation became Student Travel Australia and later traded under the STA Travel name. Richard “Dick” Porter and Gregor Macaulay were central to the brand’s early development. Porter served as chief executive for almost 30 years and is associated with transforming the operation from a student-focused travel service into a major international travel agency. The company’s later interpretation of the initials included Student Travel Association and the marketing phrase “Start The Adventure.” STA Travel’s traditional proposition centred on affordable and specialist travel for students and young people. It sold flights, accommodation, tours, insurance and related travel services through retail outlets and online channels. The business also participated in the youth-mobility and gap-year sectors. Under BUNAC, it arranged working holidays and volunteering opportunities, extending the brand beyond conventional ticketing and holiday sales. The organisation expanded internationally and eventually operated around 200 stores worldwide, employing nearly 2,000 people before the pandemic-era collapse. In August 2010 it acquired Bridge the World, intended to help it reach an older and more affluent customer group. John Constable became chief executive in November 2012. During the following year the company entered destination-marketing arrangements with Tourism New Zealand and Tourism Australia. These agreements supported campaigns intended to stimulate travel to both countries among STA Travel’s customer base. The company also faced changing expectations around responsible tourism. In May 2014 it stopped selling escorted tours that included elephant rides. Its later promotional activity included a 2018 United States travel video featuring Skinny Living. At the same time, its products included flexibility-related services such as the MultiFLEX Pass, which later became the subject of regulatory action in Australia. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a rapid deterioration in STA Travel’s international business. On 20 August 2020, STA Travel Holding AG, the Swiss parent company, filed for insolvency. The UK subsidiary entered administration and stopped trading on 21 August, affecting 52 stores and about 500 jobs. STA Travel Pty Ltd in Australia and STA Travel (NZ) Limited also entered external administration, with Deloitte involved in the proceedings. The Australian business was placed into liquidation, and arrangements were approved for certain customer refunds, subject to cancellation and liquidator fees. The South African business closed on 24 August 2020. The German operation avoided a final insolvency through a different outcome. In December 2020, its branches were taken over by New Travel Reisebüro Vertrieb, while the STA Travel identity was retained. The brand is now operated in Germany by Explorer Travel GmbH of Düsseldorf. As of March 2025, STA Travel remains active as a German travel brand, although its current footprint is much smaller than the former global network.
- 2025
Brand operates under Explorer Travel GmbH
[1]As of March 2025, STA Travel is described as a brand of Explorer Travel GmbH in Düsseldorf, Germany.
- 2020
International parent and subsidiaries enter insolvency proceedings
[1]The Swiss parent filed for insolvency, while UK, Australian and New Zealand operations entered administration or external administration during the pandemic.
- 2020
German branches transferred to NTRV
[1]New Travel Reisebüro Vertrieb took over German STA Travel branches and retained the brand.
- 2018
United States travel video released
[1]STA Travel produced a destination video featuring Skinny Living and promoting travel in the United States.
- 2014
Elephant-ride tours removed
[1]The company stopped offering escorted tours that included elephant rides.
- 2013
Destination-marketing partnerships signed
[1]STA Travel entered promotional partnerships with Tourism New Zealand and Tourism Australia.
- 2012
John Constable becomes chief executive
[1]John Constable took over as chief executive in November 2012.
- 2010
Bridge the World acquired
[1]STA Travel acquired Bridge the World to broaden its appeal toward older and more affluent travellers.
- 1979
STA Travel predecessor acquired by Edward Keller
[1]Edward Keller of Zurich acquired the student-travel business through Stewart Moffat Travel; the successor later traded as STA Travel.
- 1977
AUSST enters financial difficulty
[1]AUSST became insolvent but continued operating under a court-approved scheme of arrangement while a sale was pursued.
Products and positioning
Historically positioned as a specialist and accessible travel provider for students, young people, gap-year travellers and independent travellers, later extending toward broader and more affluent customer segments.
Travel agency services
Student and youth travel
STA Travel’s core historical proposition was travel planning and booking for students and young people. Services included air tickets, accommodation, destination advice and travel arrangements suited to independent and budget-conscious travellers.
Youth travel
Gap-year travel
The company helped popularise and serve the gap-year travel market by combining transport, accommodation, tours and destination planning for customers taking extended trips between study, work or other life stages.
Working holidays and volunteering
BUNAC programmes
Through BUNAC, the wider STA Travel business arranged working-holiday and volunteering opportunities. These programmes complemented ordinary travel sales by combining international mobility with temporary work or structured volunteer experiences.
Travel services · 2010
Bridge the World
Bridge the World became part of STA Travel after the 2010 acquisition. The transaction was intended to extend the group’s reach beyond its traditional student audience toward older and more affluent travellers.
Flight flexibility product
MultiFLEX Pass
The MultiFLEX Pass was marketed as a product allowing customers to change flight dates. Its advertising later attracted Australian consumer-regulatory action over claims that customers would not need to pay anything further for date changes.
Controversies
2020
MultiFLEX Pass consumer-protection case
Following an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission complaint, STA Travel was required to pay AU$14 million over allegations that its MultiFLEX Pass advertising misled consumers about further charges for changing flight dates.
2019
Dispute over missed flight assistance
STA Travel initially refused to assist a couple who missed a long-haul flight after a delayed domestic Air India connection, leaving them with additional costs. Following negative publicity, the company acknowledged the mistake, apologised and reimbursed the customers.
Marketing campaigns
- 2018United States destination video
United States · International
STA Travel produced a promotional video featuring Skinny Living and presenting travel destinations in the United States.
- 2013Tourism New Zealand partnership
New Zealand · International
STA Travel partnered with Tourism New Zealand on destination marketing intended to encourage its customer base to travel to New Zealand.
- 2013Tourism Australia partnership
Australia · International
STA Travel signed a multiyear marketing arrangement with Tourism Australia to promote Australian travel.
Brand decisions
2020
Enter insolvency proceedingsOtherBackground
The COVID-19 pandemic caused an unprecedented decline in international travel and severely affected the company’s global operating structure.
Action taken
STA Travel Holding AG filed for insolvency, while several national subsidiaries entered administration or external administration.
Aftermath
The UK operation ceased trading, the Australian business entered liquidation, the South African business closed, and the German business was transferred to New Travel Reisebüro Vertrieb.
2020
Transfer German branches to New Travel Reisebüro VertriebM&ABackground
The German operation faced the consequences of the wider group’s insolvency but avoided a final insolvency through a local transfer.
Action taken
New Travel Reisebüro Vertrieb took over German STA Travel branches in December 2020 and retained the STA Travel brand.
Aftermath
The brand continued operating in Germany and was later identified as a brand of Explorer Travel GmbH.
2014
Remove escorted elephant-ride toursStrategyBackground
The company adjusted its travel offering in response to changing expectations around animal welfare and responsible tourism.
Action taken
STA Travel stopped offering escorted tours that included elephant rides.
2010
Acquire Bridge the WorldM&ABackground
STA Travel sought to reach an older and more affluent demographic beyond its established student and youth customer base.
Action taken
The company acquired Bridge the World in August 2010.
Recent events
STA Travel UK announced it would cease operations[2]
Reported:
STA Travel UK announced on August 21 that it would cease operations.
Sources2 sources
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