Boeing 737-790 plane belonging to Alaska Airways is seen flying at Anchorage Ted Stevens Worldwide Airport in Anchorage, Alaska, United States on July 2, 2024.
Hasan Akbas | Anadolu | Getty Photos
Alaska Airways and Hawaiian Airways can undergo with their deliberate merger, however they have to preserve the worth of their airline reward techniques and protect a number of key routes, the U.S. Division of Transportation stated Tuesday.
The 2 carriers’ $1.9 billion merger settlement cleared the U.S. Justice Division’s overview final month. That put it within the fingers of the Transportation Division, which should additionally overview airline mergers.
The DOT stated the airways should be certain that miles earned within the HawaiianMiles and Alaska Mileage Plan applications earlier than the creation of a brand new, mixed loyalty level system is not going to expire and that they’ll switch at a 1-to-1 ratio.
In addition they should protect “important air assist” for rural areas and preserve present ranges of service for passenger and cargo routes between the Hawaiian islands, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg stated on a press name.
The Division of Transportation famous that the airways can start the method of closing the merger, however nonetheless want approval for a switch software, which permits them to mix and function worldwide routes underneath one certificates.
Hawaiian’s inventory rose practically 4% in afternoon buying and selling.
The 2 airways stated in December after they introduced plans to mix that they might hold every service’s model however function underneath a single platform, combining right into a greater than 360-airplane fleet providing over 130 locations.
Hawaiian should additionally undertake Alaska’s practices of guaranteeing household seating with out an extra charge and offering compensation if the airline causes important flight delays or cancellations, the DOT stated.
