Alaska Airlines has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Hawaiian Airlines as of December 3, 2024 for $2 billion. Also see Could Hawaiian Airlines Survive Without Alaska Deal? A World Of Emotion And Change.
“We have such mixed feelings about this, both in terms of the Hawaiian brand and nostalgia, but also given the reality of Hawaiian’s waning ability as a regional carrier to be sustainable going forward.”
Beat of Hawaii
This is huge for Hawaii travelers, and for Hawaii itself. There are a myriad of ramifications for this and we are trying to digest them as we publish. These include:
- A huge shake-up in interisland travel and in mainland travel.
- Mileage programs and how those will work going forward, That is yet to be defined.
- Lounges – Alaska doesn’t have one in Honolulu while Hawaiian has two, as one example. Alaska also has mainland lounges, whereas Hawaiian hasn’t had any for years.
- Branding – at this point the announcement says that Hawaiian will retain its own brand. Our own take is that branding could evolve over time.
- Philippine-based call center status used by Hawaiian. Alaska on the other hand has its own, US-based call center, which has far better service.
- Furthermore, we now understand perhaps why Hawaiian has been silent on their myriad of ongoing technology issues. With this acquisition and moving to Alaska’s far more evolved systems, those Hawaiian Airlines problems will disappear.
- It isn’t clear what will become of the Hawaiian Airlines’ management and other teams.
- This addresses concerns about the long-term viability of a regional airline, such as Hawaiian.
- The new airline will remain based in Seattle, and not in Honolulu.
When combined, the carrier will represent the fifth largest U.S. airline. It will have a fleet of 365 both narrow-body and wide-body aircraft from both Boeing and Airbus. The airline will fly to 138 destinations through combined networks and more than 1,200 destinations through the Oneworld Alliance to which Alaska already belongs and Hawaiian will become part of.
Honolulu will become a key hub for the combined company.
Hawaii will be retained as a key hub for both US travel as well as Asia-Pacific travel. It will continue to include the interisland service which has operated for many decades.
The deal is said to be an all-cash transaction of $18 per share which is to be attractive for Hawaiian Airlines shareholders.
A joint press release at 9am stated that “Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE: ALK), and Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Alaska Airlines will acquire Hawaiian Airlines for $18.00 per share in cash, for a transaction value of approximately $1.9 billion, inclusive of $0.9 billion of Hawaiian Airlines net debt. The combined company will unlock more destinations for consumers and expand choice of critical air service options and access throughout the Pacific region, Continental United States and globally. The transaction is expected to enable a stronger platform for growth and competition in the U.S., as well as long-term job opportunities for employees, continued investment in local communities and environmental stewardship.”
“This combination is an exciting next step in our collective journey to provide a better travel experience for our guests and expand options for West Coast and Hawai‘i travelers. We have a longstanding and deep respect for Hawaiian Airlines, for their role as a top employer in Hawai‘i, and for how their brand and people carry the warm culture of aloha around the globe. Our two airlines are powered by incredible employees, with 90+ year legacies and values grounded in caring for the special places and people that we serve. I am grateful to the more than 23,000 Alaska Airlines employees who are proud to have served Hawai‘i for over 16 years, and we are fully committed to investing in the communities of Hawai‘i and maintaining robust Neighbor Island service that Hawaiian Airlines travelers have come to expect. We look forward to deepening this stewardship as our airlines come together, while providing unmatched value to customers, employees, communities and owners.”
Ben Minicucci, Alaska Airlines CEO.
“Since 1929, Hawaiian Airlines has been an integral part of life in Hawai‘i, and together with Alaska Airlines we will be able to deliver more for our guests, employees and the communities that we serve,” said Peter Ingram, Hawaiian Airlines President and CEO. “In Alaska Airlines, we are joining an airline that has long served Hawai‘i, and has a complementary network and a shared culture of service. With the additional scale and resources that this transaction with Alaska Airlines brings, we will be able to accelerate investments in our guest experience and technology, while maintaining the Hawaiian Airlines brand. We are also pleased to deliver significant, immediate and compelling value to our shareholders through this all-cash transaction. Together, Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines can bring our authentic brands of hospitality to more of the world while continuing to serve our valued local communities.”
Preserving both Hawaiian AIrlines and Alaska Airlines brands
The combined airline plans to maintain both Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines brands while integrating into operations into a single functional platform. That while continue to leverage the brand recognition associated with both airlines.
An enhanced product offering for a wide range of consumers is promised.
“The combination preserves and expands high-quality, best-in-class product offerings with price points to make air travel accessible to a wide range of consumers across a range of cabin classes, including greater choice between Alaska Airlines’ high-value, low-fare options and Hawaiian Airlines’ international and long-haul product on par with network carriers. Complementary networks expand travel options: Passengers traveling throughout the Continental U.S., U.S. West Coast and across the Pacific will benefit from more choice and increased connectivity across both airlines’ networks, with service to 138 destinations including non-stop service to 29 top international destinations in the Americas, Asia, Australia and the South Pacific, and combined access to over 1,200 destinations through the oneworld Alliance. Expanded service for Hawai‘i: For Hawai‘i residents, the combination will expand service and convenience by tripling the number of destinations throughout North America that can be reached nonstop or one stop from the Islands, while maintaining robust Neighbor Island service and increasing air cargo capacity.
Strategic Honolulu hub: Honolulu will become a key Alaska Airlines hub, enabling greater international connectivity for West Coast travelers throughout the Asia-Pacific region with one-stop service through Hawai‘i.
Increased loyalty program benefits: The transaction will connect Hawaiian Airlines’ loyalty members with enhanced benefits through an industry-leading loyalty program for the combined airline, including the ability to earn and redeem miles on 29 global partners and receive elite benefits on the full complement of oneworld Alliance airlines, expanded global lounge access and benefits of the combined program’s co-brand credit card.”
The transaction agreement has been approved by both boards.
“The acquisition is conditioned on required regulatory approvals, approval by Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. shareholders (which is expected to be sought in the first quarter of 2024), and other customary closing conditions. It is expected to close in 12-18 months. The combined organization will be based in Seattle under the leadership of Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci. A dedicated leadership team will be established to focus on integration planning.”
As a million mile flier with Alaska Airlines, I am pleased with the Hawaiian Airline acquisition. Nice work, Alaska airline!!!
This is shockingly bad new for Hawaii. There is no upside in the long run for any one in this. Hawaiian Airlines employees and customers alike will greatly suffer. 90+ years old HAL as we know it is going to change into something different and in the end will just be no more. The idea, let alone the decision to sale HAL to AAL is so odious it calls into question the rational of Hawaiian CEO Peter Ingram and his leadership team. Just what was going on?
Well, This is big news in the travel world. I never like neo airplanes. Narrow and short pitched. Betcha though that just like all corps that purchase other companies, then over price us all out of our bank accounts. There just continues to be a goal of only one or 2 businesses available to keep prices above and out of price range for us average income earners. I am just glad I am at sunset of life and have been everywhere as it gets harder and harder to afford our everyday needs, let alone take a vacation.
Having been through “mergers and acquisitions” before while working within the airline industry, I can tell you — with certainty — that some or all of these things WILL happen:
1. Many airline employees — across all the job categories in the merged companies — will experience lost jobs, retirements, and benefits …
2. There will be major problems merging seniority lists among the unionized employee groups … training suffers, which will translate into other “problems” with employee performance and attitudes …
3. Airline fares will increase with less competition, mostly across the board …
4. Passengers will experience fewer choices in routes, airports, and other options …
That’s just a short list …
Well stated. Less competition is always bad for us, the customers/consumers.
Hopefully if nothing else rising prices will keep large tourism at bay. Don’t get us wrong it’s not that we hate tourism but maybe reduce it both for our local community and the tourists themselves. Many have indicated they don’t want to go to extremely crowded places but there is nowhere quiet to go anymore. People have been coming on cheap deals and things like that which won’t happen anymore. I hate Alaska airlines but maybe this is one positive outlook for the islands.
As long as Alaska doesn’t thin the fleet and get rid of Hawaiian’s Airbus fleet (like they did with Virgin’s old Airbus aircraft) it may work. The CEO of Alaska said that Hawaiian Airlines brand will remain. But in aviation, I’ll believe it when I see it. Often times many things are said to make people feel good, but doesn’t actually happen. I just hope we can still fly the A330, A321 or the new 787 to and from Hawaii. If Alaska makes the only option the 737 MAX we will be looking elsewhere
I totally agree…won’t fly 737 ever again over the ocean after a nightmare stormy flight!
As was the case with the virgin merger this one is antcomletive in that it will take out a major player in the west coast to hi airline mkt. Will the ftc stop it hell as stacfers just serve there tk become merger lawyers on wall st.
Eventually the Hawaiian Brand will be whittle down to Just a “Novelty “ Inter Island Hopping airline operated by Skywest E145 painted like Hawaiian Airlines with cheaper regional crews to make those flights profitable against Southwest. The 2000 Hawaiian FA will be used to Fly international markets and Midwestern markets for the Mid pacific 787 connecting HUB under the AlaskaAir brand.
Unfortunately Both are in the Same Union so they unlikely will be able to fence their Base to save lucrative flying for the Hawaiian crews so AlaskaAir can have flight attendant flexibility.
Alaska doesn not have any E145 aircraft nor does Hawaiian
Yeah, they do, although they are flown as Horizon Air…
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horizon_Air#/media/File:HorizonAirEmbraerE175N633QX_YYCNovember2018.jpg
After seeing what Alaska did to the Virgin America brand. Sadly, I don’t see much hope for Hawaiian Airlines moving on as a brand as stated in the media release.
I’ve got a bad feeling about this. Alaska just marked all their planes “proud to be Boeing only” and sold their last a321 Neo last year, of which is a backbone of Hawaiian. Also customers love and Need competition. This is definitely going to RAISE prices as 2 of the “big 3” Hawaiian airlines (Southwest being the third) will now be merging. Not to mention look what happened when Alaska “bought/tookover” Virgin.
I love both Hawaiian AND Alaskan, but they should not become one company. And the Alaska CEO just gives me bad evil takeover vibes to be honest. And what about the new HA Dreamliners? More questions than answers but let’s hope this somehow benefits us customers, which 9/10 does Not.
T.S.
Ige and Co. shut down the State for an eternity. No industry in Hawaii has fully recovered, while places like FL, TX and TN experienced booming economies. Almost every other airline has posted profits over the last several quarters, HA hasn’t even come close.
Add in all the mainland tourist hatred, an inadequate management at HA that bungles every technological change-over, dilapidated terminals, construction crews that cannot lay concrete properly resulting in runway closures…
Self-induced injuries are the way in Hawaii.
Sean, let’s not forget what your Governor and the Maui Mayor have done with their wishy-washy handling of the fire situations. No one in to West Maui was ridiculous. I understand why being from California where fires and loss are any every year occurrence, but to close down like that did costing the state millions per day was criminal. Of course, it trickled down to the airline.
Is there a possibility of direct flights to and from St Louis, Missouri or Mid America airport?
Aloha Rob+Jeff Greetings from Beautiful Kauai. In regard to your news, hopefully more legroom would be appreciated. Have never flown Alaska, is it comparable to Hawaiian Air. At least we have a year before this transaction takes place. Mahalo as always.
Hi Debra.
Thanks for asking. Yes, in our own personal experience, economy comfort and legroom are comparable. Hawaiian has more options like widebody planes, which also include 2-across seating on their legacy A330 planes. The new Dreamliners will only be 3-across, however.
Aloha.
Wow !!
We heard the news this morning at Lihue Airport bound for Kahului.
Hoping Alaska will let Hawaiian be a separate but equal partner but who knows how this will eventually look like. Guess we need a crystal ball.
We just want no layoffs for Hawaiians crew and staff.
We fly both regularly to Hawaii and enjoy both.
It will be interesting to watch how this big news unfolds over the next few years.
Take care everyone
Want to add part 2.
This merger could be awesome for all but worried Hawaiian might lose some of its identity.
Hoping the CEO will allow separate and equal now and in the future.
People fly Hawaiian because of its Hawaiian soul.
This will be interesting and yes, sorta scary to watch going forward.
Hoping this works.
Take care
One potential upside to the merger would be HA escaping from TBIT West at LAX to T6. It has two widebody gates of which AS has a lease on one of them.
Of course it is subject to government approval
Agreed!!! Hated when I landed from a Red-Eye into a LAX deserted ghost-town of a mile+ walk at 5:00 am from Hawaiian Air’s absolutely horrible gate ! If they could get a more sane gate I may venture to LAX on that rare occasion …
I remember when HA was in T2 and had a club lounge. Miss those days.
AS does not least the gate space at LAX. All of the gate space is dictated and controlled by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA). They are who made HA move to the mid field terminal. The wide body gates at T6 are used by Air Canada.
None of this makes sense! HA stock is hovering around $5.00 a share, AS is offering $18.00 a share! I’m no financial guru but even I know that doesn’t make sense! Also, not sure current administration will approve this, Jet Blue & Spirit merger is on shaky ground.
Hawaiian was working on reviewing replacement aircraft for the 717.
It will be interesting to see how Alaska’s acquisition affects those plans. As far as I understand, HA is moving towards phasing out
the A330 for the 787 as the primary wide body aircraft. It will also be interesting to see how this transaction affects those plans also.