Hawaiian Airlines assures passengers POG juice remains post-merger

POG Juice, a popular beverage among Hawaiian Airlines passengers, will remain available despite the airline's merger with Alaska Airlines. The merger has led to concerns about potential changes to services, but both airlines will continue to operate separately. POG stands for Passion Orange Guava and was created by Mary Soon in 1971. It became an unofficial signature drink on Hawaiian Airlines flights.

The merger between Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines is valued at $1.9 billion. Joe Sprague, the new CEO of Hawaiian Airlines, assured that POG juice would not be removed from their offerings. "That process will take probably a year or a little longer in order to do that," Sprague said regarding operational integration. He emphasized the importance of maintaining ties with local partners.

The merger aims to optimize overlapping routes and maximize passenger loads while preserving jobs for many employees. Approximately 7,400 front-line union workers are expected to benefit from this move. However, some job losses are anticipated due to duplication across the two carriers.