Airline Stocks Get Hit by Short Sellers as Oil Hedge: ‘A Bet the War Does Not End Soon’

Short interest in airline stocks has increased significantly, rising from 8% to 13% of the float, with JetBlue's short interest climbing from 20% to 29%. American Airlines and Alaska Air Lines have seen their short interest double to 14% and 10%, respectively, since the Iran War began on February 28. The five tracked airline stocks are down an average of 30% from their pre-war highs, as short sellers bet against the airlines amid rising oil prices.