The U.S. Department of Transportation on Monday granted the transfer of international route authorities from Hawaiian Airlines to its new corporate parent, Alaska Air Group, allowing the company to officially take over those flights.
The ruling further advances Alaska Air Group’s integration of Hawaiian, which it acquired for $1.9 billion. The deal was announced in December 2023 and closed in September 2024.
Alaska Air Group owns Hawaiian, Alaska Airlines, and regional airline Horizon Air.
Transportation officials said they did not receive any letters opposing the transfer of authorities from Hawaiian to Alaska during the public comment period.
“The Department finds that both Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian will remain viable air carriers after the merger and that the combined operations of the air carriers will enhance domestic competition in the airline industry,” the approval letter reads. “The merger is expected to generate $400 million in run-rate synergies, which will create a more financially secure and resilient combined carrier that will be able to weather adverse economic conditions and other future financial challenges.”
According to the department’s filing, Hawaiian is authorized to fly to any country with which the U.S. has an Open Skies agreement and has certificates for travel to Papeete, Tahiti, and Tokyo Haneda. It also has exemptions for third-country codesharing to Vietnam and Hong Kong.
The airline has codeshare agreements with China Airlines, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Virgin Australia, Air China, Turkish Airlines, and Philippine Airlines, which Alaska Air Group will inherit.
