By: The Trek News Desk
Rising geopolitical tensions in West Asia rattled Indian equity markets on Monday morning, triggering a sharp sell-off in aviation and travel-related stocks. Investor sentiment turned cautious as fears of prolonged disruption to international flight operations mounted.
On the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), shares of InterGlobe Aviation slipped around 7.5 per cent, while SpiceJet declined by over 7 per cent during early trade. The broader travel segment also witnessed heavy losses. Yatra Online plunged more than 11 per cent, Easy Trip Planners fell nearly 9 per cent, TBO Tek dropped about 8 per cent, and Thomas Cook shed over 5 per cent.
The weakness extended to the benchmark indices as well. The BSE Sensex was trading more than 1,000 points lower at around the 80,284 marks. Meanwhile, the NSE Nifty fell by over 300 points to hover near 24,864, reflecting widespread selling pressure across sectors.
Market analysts attribute the decline to escalating tensions involving Israel, the United States, and Iran, which have led to temporary airspace closures across several West Asian countries. The restrictions have disrupted international flight routes, forcing airlines to either cancel services or reroute aircraft, thereby increasing operational uncertainty.
The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) on Sunday highlighted a noticeable spike in cancellations and requests for postponements. Routes connecting India to Europe via major Gulf hubs have been particularly affected due to airspace limitations.
IATO President Ravi Gosain stated that travel agents across the country are coordinating closely with airlines and overseas partners to minimise passenger inconvenience. Efforts are underway to arrange alternative routes, process refunds, and facilitate re-bookings wherever possible.
Experts believe that if tensions in West Asia persist, the aviation and tourism sectors may continue to face pressure in the near term. Investors, meanwhile, are closely monitoring global developments for further cues.
Source: News Agencies
