Merger of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines has passed DOJ's antitrust approval

 Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

According to foreign media reports, the merger of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines has passed the antitrust approval of the U.S. Department of Justice and is currently awaiting the review results of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Since Alaska Airlines announced its acquisition intention in December 2023, it has been actively cooperating with Hawaiian Airlines in the review of the U.S. Department of Justice. In July 2024, the two parties agreed to extend the review period from the original 5 August to 15 August 2024.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green said, "The merger of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines has taken an important step. The regulatory review period of the U.S. Department of Justice has ended, and this merger will greatly increase the number of North American destinations that Hawaii residents can reach directly from the islands or with a stopover."

According to reports, mergers and acquisitions in the U.S. aviation industry face strict scrutiny from regulators. A U.S. federal judge earlier blocked JetBlue Airways' $3.8 billion acquisition of low-cost airline Spirit Airlines.