Alaska Airlines won approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation on Tuesday for its $1.9 billion purchase of Hawaiian Airlines. The two U.S. carriers had announced the deal in December 2023 but had been awaiting approval since then.
The US Department of Transportation gave the green light on Tuesday to the $1.9 billion merger of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. The department said both airlines had to preserve the value of customer-earned rewards, maintain service on key routes from Hawaii to the US and allow for competition at Honolulu’s hub airport, AFP reported.
“We have secured binding protections that maintain critical flight service for communities, ensure smaller airlines have access to Honolulu’s hub airport, reduce costs for families and service members, and protect the value of award miles from depreciation,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement. “This more proactive approach to merger review is a new chapter in the Department of Transportation’s work to defend travelers’ rights and promote a more equitable aviation industry in America.”
MERGER IS COMPLETED TODAY
Alaska Airlines said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that, subject to certain remaining conditions, Alaska and Hawaiian expect to complete the merger around Sept. 18, 2024. The commitments agreed to are consistent with the plans it announced when signing the agreement, Alaska Airlines said in a statement.
The new airline is expected to have a fleet of over 360 aircraft and serve around 140 destinations.
Headquartered in Seattle, Alaska Airlines primarily serves the western United States. Honolulu, the capital of Hawaii, will be its second major hub.
Alaska Airlines shares were down about 0.9 percent at the close on Tuesday, while Hawaiian shares were up 3.9 percent.
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Source: bigpara.hurriyet.com.tr
