(Updates to add stock movement in the headline and last paragraph)
Helloworld Travel (ASX:HLO) lowered its fiscal 2026 underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) guidance to AU$57 million to AU$62 million, down from AU$64 million to AU$72 million, citing operational disruption linked to the ongoing Middle East conflict, according to an Australian bourse filing on June 5 after market hours.
The conflict has led to substantial flight cancellations and re-bookings, a reduction in Middle Eastern airline capacity, and rising fuel costs, which together have driven forward air sales to about 4% below the prior-year level in the fiscal fourth quarter, per the filing.
The company notes that despite near-term weakness, forward bookings from July onward are trending higher year over year, and it expects leisure travel demand to recover within 60 to 90 days following the resolution of the conflict, the filing said.
The company anticipates a fully franked final dividend comparable to the interim payout in March, as it continues to benefit from a strong revenue mix driven by premium cabins and non-air services.
The company remains resilient in leisure travel demand and continues to hold a 20.1% stake in Webjet (ASX:WJL), which it actively monitors as a strategic investment, the filing added.
Helloworld's shares fell around 3% in recent Tuesday trade, while Webjet declined 4%.