Throughout the war in Iran over the past few months, global travel has been affected, with impacts ranging from changes in airspace usage to rising fuel costs and even changes in the way travelers behave, as some have chosen to postpone international travel due to security or cost concerns. Although it remains to be seen at the beginning of H2 2026 how the conflict between the United States and Iran may continue or be resolved, the post-ceasefire situation may lead to increased stability in the tourism industry.
Increasing consumer confidence, lower fuel and ticket prices, the restoration of flight routes, and other changes can lead to the development of certain companies operating within the sector. Yes, there may be an upper limit to the benefits of leisure travel in certain parts of the world outside the Middle East, and there are other reasons why the cost of air travel may remain high regardless of the Iran conflict. However, two stocks to watch include Flywire Corp. NASDAQ: FLYW and Airbnb, Inc. NASDAQ: ABNB.
Global Travel Bonded Payments Company
Flywire is probably not the first company investors will think of when it comes to the travel industry—the company is a global payments enablement company in the business of cross-border transactions. Travel is one of its most direct ways, but it is also involved in education, health care, and commercial services.
Flywire Today
As of 07/2/2026 04:00 PM Eastern
- 52 week interval
- $10.10
▼
$18.92
- The P/E ratio
- 81.52
- Target Value
- $18.07
Still, even for parts of Flywire’s business that aren’t directly related to hospitality, travel can have an impact. For example, international education fees are often related to students or their families traveling abroad—stronger travel rates may mean more opportunities to make payments easier.
The frequency of travel may also mean more international hotel bookings, more international payment processors, and so on. Flywire’s business benefits from strong payment volume, rather than just from the sale of airline tickets or hotel reservations.
Fortunately for Flywire, it is already thriving even before the resolution of the US-Iran conflict. For the first quarter of 2026, for example, the company reported 41% year-over-year (YOY) gains in revenue and adjusted EBITDA of $39 million while raising full-year revenue and EBITDA forecasts. Much of this development was the result of new educational clients, meaning there may be more room for leisure and business growth.
Analysts see overall earnings momentum continuing and expect earnings growth to reach around 111% next year. For investors, the question may be whether FLYW shares can keep up with this momentum after a nearly 32% year-to-date (YTD) return. The stock isn’t cheap—it trades at about 81x earnings—but Wall Street is optimistic, as FLYW has nine Buy ratings, one Strong Buy, and five Holds.
More Direct Travel Marketing Firm
Airbnb is known for its guest-driven lodging platform, with accommodations available all over the world. The company’s wide geographical distribution means that many parts of its business have been only slightly affected by the conflict. The ceasefire could boost bookings in certain areas around the Middle East, for example, or as a result of restoring consumer confidence among international travelers.
Airbnb Today
As of 07/2/2026 04:00 PM Eastern
- 52 week interval
- $110.81
▼
$150.19
- The P/E ratio
- 36.68
- Target Value
- $158.36
A big sign to watch would be whether the end of the US-Iran conflict helps reduce travel costs. Cost-conscious travelers have historically turned to Airbnb for its value relative to hotels in many regions. If the ceasefire lowers the prices offered by hosts—or if hotel costs rise faster than Airbnb costs—the company could benefit.
Airbnb’s revenue has been strong—up 18% YOY to $2.7 billion in the most recently reported quarter, and the company expects low-to-mid revenue growth for the rest of the year. Emphasizing the importance of cost, the company’s Reserve Now, Pay Later policy has helped fuel growth in occupancy and other metrics. The company also keeps costs low by increasingly using AI in coding and customer support.
Airbnb has estimated that the conflict in the Middle East has drawn about 100 basis points per night/seat, so a decision there could have a significant impact going forward. However, with ongoing concerns about housing regulation, competition, discretionary spending, and more, there are additional factors that investors should keep in mind. Nevertheless, analysts see ABNB stock as a strong choice: the company enjoys 23 Buy ratings, two Strong Buy ratings, 13 Hold, and one Sell, in addition to a strong 6% high even after rising more than 8% YTD.
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