Delta Air Lines Inc. (DAL ) CEO Ed Bastian has said that the company will be prioritizing expanding globally rather than considering consolidation in the U.S. aviation industry. In an interview on Monday, Bastian said that the company wasn't keen on consolidation in the sector "just because there's a window in Washington," Bloomberg reported on Monday, outlining the President Donald Trump administration's openness to mergers.
Bastian commented on a possible merger of United Airlines Holdings Inc. (UAL ) and American Airlines Group Inc. (AAL ), saying that the "idea of merging with American Airlines" was being promoted by United CEO Scott Kirby, had met with opposition from American Airlines, as well as lawmakers.
Bastian also said that the company was restarting flights to Hong Kong and adding routes to Riyadh. Delta aims to bolster its presence in Asia and South America, the CEO said. Bastian shared that Delta's strategy involved recognizing and growing the "relevance" of the airline's "brand internationally." He then acknowledged that ticket prices could remain elevated amid surging oil costs due to the Iran war.
Berkshire Hathaway Buys Delta Stock
Berkshire Hathaway's (BRK.A ) new CEO, Greg Abel's first 13F filings since the departure of investor Warren Buffett as the CEO in late 2025, showed that the company added over 39 million shares of the airline in its portfolio.
The position signifies a shift in strategy for Berkshire, which had exited all of its airline positions under Buffett after the investor sold off stakes in United, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines (LUV ) and Delta, totaling over $4 billion in holdings.
Spirit Collapse
Meanwhile, talks of mergers pre-dated Spirit Aviation Holdings Inc.'s (FLYYQ ) collapse, with the budget airline's merger with JetBlue Airways Corporation (JBLU ) blocked in 2024 during the previous President Joe Biden administration. While Trump had floated the idea of a $500 million funding package for the low-cost carrier, the package was rejected by its creditors.
The Trump administration has rejected the idea that Spirit's collapse was in part due to the war in Iran, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy saying that the collapse was "self-made." Meanwhile, lawmakers like Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) shared that the war was the "final nail in the coffin" for the low-cost carrier.
