Alaska cleared for takeover of Hawaiian's international routes

Alaska Airlines has received approval from the Department of Transportation (DOT) to take over Hawaiian Airlines' certificates and international services. This development follows the merger between Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, finalized in September 2024.

The DOT's decision allows Alaska Air Group, which owns both Alaska Airlines and its regional carrier Horizon Air, to acquire Hawaiian Airlines' economic authorities. This includes transferring and amending current approvals held by Hawaiian Airlines to Alaska Airlines or vice versa. The application for this transfer was filed in July 2024, with no objections raised by stakeholders.

The merger deal, valued at $1.9 billion, includes $900 million of Hawaiian Airlines' debt. According to the DOT, "After carefully reviewing the application and other information available to us, the Department finds that the proposed certificate transfer is in the public interest."