By Adriano Marchese

Airline operators were hard-hit in premarket trading Monday as escalating conflict in the Middle East sent oil prices sharply higher and forced widespread airspace closures, rattling global travel demand.

Shares in United Airlines and American Airlines were the biggest decliners so far in the morning, falling 5.2% and 4.7%, respectively, ahead of the morning bell. Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines were down 4.3% and 3.6%, respectively.

A sweeping regional war is unfolding across the Middle East, with the U.S. and Israel launching coordinated strikes inside Iran and triggering a cascade of retaliatory attacks that have pulled much of the region into open conflict, choking off the flow of goods through the critical Strait of Hormuz and severing busy air travel corridors for many airlines.

Oil prices have surged more than 6% to $71.24 a barrel as supply risks mounted.

Delta has canceled flights to Tel Aviv through March 31, while United Airlines and American Airlines have suspended services across the region as carriers navigate closed airspace, rerouting challenges and heightened security risks.

Write to Adriano Marchese at adriano.marchese@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 02, 2026 07:17 ET (12:17 GMT)

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