Alaska Airlines made an important announcement regarding its planned merger with Hawaiian Airlines, announcing that the transaction had successfully cleared a key regulatory hurdle with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
This positive development follows the airline’s recent decision to extend the review period for the $1.9 billion merger, as reported by Reuters. Alaska Airlines confirmed that the deadline given to antitrust regulators to review the merger has expired without the Justice Department taking legal action to obstruct the agreement.
“This is a significant milestone in the process of combining our airlines,” the company said, emphasizing its ongoing work with the Hawaii Attorney General to strengthen commitments that benefit both Hawaiian Airlines and Hawaii consumers. The merger is seen as a strategic step to enhance service offerings and operational capabilities in the region.
Before the merger can be completed, however, it must undergo a thorough review by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The timing of this review process is still uncertain, which adds an element of anticipation to the process. A DOT spokesperson commented, “Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines have applied to merge under one license and cannot combine their operating licenses without the approval of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The Department will review the application and may approve a transfer only if it is in the public interest.”
Alaska Airlines, which also owns Horizon Air, has announced its intention to continue operating Hawaiian Airlines as a separate brand while optimizing the operational efficiency of the two airlines. Together, Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines have a fleet of nearly 400 aircraft and serve nearly 140 destinations in various regions.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green commented on the merger: “The merger will greatly increase the number of destinations across North America that Hawaii residents can reach nonstop or with a stopover from the islands. HawaiianMiles members will retain the value of their miles while gaining access to more destinations around the world.”
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