Alaska Air Group closes on Hawaiian Airlines acquisition: Travel Weekly

Less than a day after the deal received the go-ahead from the Transportation Department, Alaska Airlines has completed its $1.9 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines.

With the closing, Alaska Air Group now flies nearly 1,500 daily flights to 141 destinations, operating a fleet of 350 Airbus, Boeing and Embraer aircraft while employing more than 33,000 people.

Hawaiian Airlines stock will be de-listed on Wednesday.

The Alaska and Hawaiian brands will remain distinct over the long run. And for now, not much else has changed for flyers of either airline brand. Hawaiian and Alaska will operate as separate airlines, with separate passenger service systems, until they obtain a single operating certificate from the FAA. The airlines will also maintain separate websites, reservations systems and loyalty programs until later in the integration process.

But some smaller changes will be immediate or come soon.

Alaska lounge members can now use the Hawaiian Airlines lounges while flying on Hawaiian.

In the coming weeks, said Alaska, flyers will be able to purchase tickets on either airline via the websites of each carrier. In addition, members of  the Alaska Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles loyalty programs will be able to transfer miles between the programs without charge for redemption on either carrier. And for Hawaii residents, a new discount travel program called Huaka’I will be introduced, offering a quarterly 10% discount on interisland flights and other benefits.

The months that follow will bring more loyalty program synergies, Alaska said. Members of both loyalty programs will be able to accrue miles on either airline. Beginning in early 2025, Mileage Plan members will be able to redeem miles for flights on Hawaiian or for itineraries that combine Hawaiian, Alaska or their partners. And flyers with status on either carrier will be able to link their loyalty accounts to receive equivalent status on the other airline.

Alaska eventually plans to eliminate Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles, replacing them with a unified new program. Alaska CEO Ben Minicucci said the company will put out more details in mid-2025, and promised the program will offer the most generous rewards in the airline industry.

Minicucci said he is thrilled that the integration is moving forward. 

“Together, this is a powerful combination that will unlock growth and benefits for everyone who depends on us,” he said.