Merger

Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines resumed pilot hiring on Friday, reopening the application process for new first officers.

The unions representing pilots at Republic and Mesa have signed a “unity agreement” that will govern contract negotiations as the two carriers work to merge.

But JetBlue leadership pushed back on these so-called “rumors” in an email to employees Thursday that was viewed by AirlineGeeks.

Although Bricker says he isn’t actively placing bids, he noted that “we’re gonna be ready to take advantage of any opportunities that are out there.”

The two regional carriers are set to merge later this year under an all-stock deal, marking the U.S.’s latest airline tie-up.

Ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit has rejected yet another merger offer from Frontier as the carrier plans to go forward with restructuring.

During a recent earnings call, Frontier’s leaders say they are ready to move forward with the company’s latest proposal to purchase Spirit.

Should a transaction be finalized, Frontier and Spirit would become the fifth-largest U.S. airline with plans to serve 100 million passengers per year. 

Alaska plans to stretch the Hawaiian Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner fleet in the coming years as it adds more long-haul destinations.

The flag carrier announced the acquisition in November 2020. Korean Air will invest 1.5 trillion won ($1.07 billion) to acquire a 63.88% stake in Asiana Airlines.