Berkshire Hathaway’s Remarkable $2.6B Return to the Airline Industry
Berkshire Hathaway made a remarkable return to the airline industry on May 15, 2026. The company disclosed that it had purchased a substantial 39.8 million shares of Delta Air Lines, valued at $2.6 billion. This investment has become the company’s 14th-largest holding.
This move signifies a dramatic reversal for the Omaha-based conglomerate. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Berkshire Hathaway completely exited airline stocks. At that time, Warren Buffett sold over $4 billion in airline holdings across United, American, Southwest, and Delta. He stated that the pandemic had “fundamentally altered” consumer behavior and travel patterns.
The disclosure of this investment was made in Berkshire’s first quarterly 13F filing under the new CEO, Greg Abel. Abel assumed the role this year after Buffett stepped down after six decades of leadership. The announcement of the 6.1% stake in Delta Air Lines sent the company’s shares up by more than 3% in after-hours trading.
Buffett, who remains chairman at age 95, has historically been skeptical of airlines. He once quoted Richard Branson, saying that the easiest way to become a millionaire is to “start as a billionaire and then buy an airline.” However, Berkshire’s return to the sector comes as its cash reserve nears a record $400 billion. The company is facing limited attractive deployment opportunities. Currently, airlines are dealing with challenges from higher fuel costs due to geopolitical tensions affecting the Strait of Hormuz.
Source: CNBC