Airline stocks tumble as the coronavirus spreads outside of China

Airline stocks fell Monday as fears about the spread of the coronavirus beyond China added to worries about travel demand and the broader economy, despite a drop in fuel prices.

American Airlines shares led the S&P 500 lower with an 8.6% drop in morning trading, hitting a more than four-month low. Delta Air Lines‘ stock lost 6.7% to the lowest price in nearly four months, while United Airlines was off 4%.

All U.S. airline stocks were down more sharply than the broader market. The S&P 500 was down 2.6%. 

More than 200,000 flights to, from and within China have already been cancelled because of the virus, according to aviation consulting firm Cirium, and more disruptions are possible if the virus continues to spread.

The virus is expected to eat into carriers’ revenue this year. Air travel demand globally is set to fall for the first time since 2009 and cost airlines some $29 billion — mostly in the Asia-Pacific region — in revenue, the International Air Transport Association warned last week.

All U.S. carriers have already suspended service to mainland China and Hong Kong because of the outbreak of COVID-19. New cases in South Korea, Iran, and Italy have added to concerns about the rapid spread of the virus, as airlines look ahead to the busy travel periods in the second and third quarters.