Investing.com -- Shares in IAG fell more than 5% on Monday as escalating tensions in the Middle East disrupted flight operations across the region. Several Middle Eastern airports, including Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi, were closed, with Dubai International — the world's busiest airport for international passenger traffic — among those affected.

British Airways, IAG's flagship carrier, cancelled services to Tel Aviv and Bahrain until at least Wednesday. The airline warned that flights between London Heathrow and several Middle Eastern airports, including Abu Dhabi and Dubai, could face disruption for several days. European carriers also declined sharply, with Air France falling over 6%, Deutsche Lufthansa AG dropping 6%, and Air France-KLM sliding more than 9%.

The airspace closures triggered widespread disruption to global air travel on Sunday, halting operations and leaving large numbers of passengers stranded as flights were canceled or rerouted. The shutdowns highlight the vulnerability of international aviation networks to geopolitical tensions and the cascading effects that regional conflicts can have on global travel.