New York, March 2, 2026, 15:01 EST — Regular session
- BKNG slipped roughly 0.7% in the afternoon, following an initial drop earlier.
- Travel stocks took another hit, weighed down by mounting flight disruptions and a surge in oil prices sparked by the Middle East conflict.
- Next up: Booking’s record date falls on March 6, with the stock split slated for early April.
Booking Holdings (BKNG.O), which owns Booking.com and Priceline, slipped 0.7% to $4,209.26 as of Monday afternoon. Shares had dipped to $4,159.01 earlier in the session.
Travel stocks tumbled as airlines, hotel groups, and other big travel names lost a combined $22.6 billion in market cap, hit by the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict snarling global flights and keeping major airports like Dubai and Doha offline. At least 4,000 flights canceled in just three days, according to the data, while oil prices soared up to 13%, hitting levels not seen since January 2025. “Every airline is full and every flight is full because people are just having to take what they can,” said Paul Charles, who runs travel consultancy PC Agency. Reuters
Right now, traders are weighing just how long the disruption might drag on, and whether it’s going to dent booking confidence outside the immediate area. Crude has shot up more than 8% as the conflict hampers shipping through the Strait of Hormuz—a chokepoint for roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply. U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that military operations targeting Iran could stretch out for another four weeks. Reuters
Shares of Airbnb dropped 0.6% to $134.24. Expedia edged down 0.3%, closing at $215.09. Trip.com lost 2.1% to finish at $51.50.
Airlines bore the brunt as crude prices jumped, with fuel—a chunk of expenses at roughly 21%—taking center stage for investors, MarketWatch reported. The impact didn’t stop there: travel platforms like Expedia and Airbnb, along with hotel chains like Marriott International, also felt the pressure. MarketWatch
Booking’s board announced a $10.50 per share cash dividend, set for payment on March 31 to shareholders holding the stock as of March 6, according to the company. In an SEC filing, Booking detailed that anyone listed as a record holder at the close of March 6 gets 24 extra shares for every share they own, reflecting a 25-for-1 stock split. The distribution is scheduled after the market shuts on April 2, with trading on the split-adjusted shares slated to begin April 6. The split will multiply the number of shares and lower the price per share, though the company’s market value won’t change. SEC
Crude remains the key factor for the stock right now. Wells Fargo’s Ohsung Kwon cautioned that if oil goes above $100 per barrel, the S&P 500 could drop to 6,000. A lasting price surge would likely hit travel demand, with higher fuel and related costs squeezing consumers. Reuters
Oil prices, flight cancellations, and hints of major hub reopenings are on investors’ radar. As for Booking holders, March 6 stands out as the next date to watch before the company’s April split.
