Alaska unveils growth plan post-Hawaiian merger; expands SEA hub

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Alaska unveils growth plan post-Hawaiian merger; expands SEA hub

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By Sky Industry News

Dec 10, 2024

Alaska Airlines Group has revealed its "Alaska Accelerate" plan following the acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines. The airline aims to establish itself as a major player in the US market, focusing on enhancing passenger experiences and developing Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA) into an international hub.

As part of this strategy, Alaska Airlines announced that Hawaiian Airlines will begin non-stop flights from SEA to Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT) and Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) in 2025. These services will be operated using Hawaiian Airlines' Airbus A330-200 aircraft, with departures to Tokyo-Narita starting in May 2025 and to Seoul-Incheon in October 2025. Tickets for these routes are already available through both airlines' websites.

"Including Tokyo Narita and Seoul Incheon, the company plans to serve at least 12 nonstop global destinations with long-haul widebody aircraft from our Seattle gateway by 2030," said a spokesperson for Alaska Airlines Group.

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Ben Minicucci, CEO of Alaska Airlines Group, expressed optimism about the new international routes: “From our global gateway in Seattle, we can conveniently connect travelers from across our network as they head to Asia and beyond."

Hawaiian Airlines has not previously operated direct widebody flights from mainland US to international destinations since at least 2000. Meanwhile, Alaska Airlines has never used twin-aisle jets.

The merger positions Alaska Airlines Group to capture significant revenue and cost benefits by 2027. Shane Tackett, CFO of Alaska Airlines Group, emphasized the financial advantages: “And it will drive substantial financial results that will continue to set us apart from our competitors.”

The group expects its capacity to grow by up to 3% in 2025 with earnings per share projected at $5.75 or more. Capital expenditures are estimated between $1.4 billion and $1.5 billion for the year.

“October and November close-in bookings were strong,” noted an official statement from Alaska Airlines regarding their upgraded Q4 outlook.