Alaska Airlines announced that its proposed merger with Hawaiian Airlines has successfully cleared a key regulatory review by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). This development comes shortly after the airlines agreed to extend the review period for their $1.9 billion merger deal.
According to a statement from Alaska Airlines, the DOJ’s review period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Antitrust Improvements Act has concluded. This marks a significant step forward in the merger process. The airline now awaits further steps with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to advance the merger.
Alaska Airlines first announced the merger with Hawaiian Airlines last year. Recently, the airlines agreed to a brief extension of the DOJ’s review period to address additional regulatory considerations.
Hawaii’s Governor Josh Green also commented on the merger, describing it as a major milestone. He highlighted that the merger will greatly increase the number of nonstop and one-stop destinations available to residents of Hawaii across North America. Additionally, HawaiianMiles members will continue to benefit from their miles and gain access to more global destinations.
In the context of recent aviation industry trends, regulatory scrutiny on mergers and acquisitions remains stringent. For example, earlier this year, a federal judge blocked JetBlue Airways’ proposed $3.8 billion acquisition of Spirit Airlines, reflecting the challenges faced in airline consolidation efforts.
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