Alaska Airlines to acquire Hawaiian Airlines

[Mwenenzi]

Details still emerging. Would need to get past USA regulatory hurdles.
Separate brands to continue, but 1 FPP and HA part of Oneworld. That's good for Oneworld flyers in this part of the world.
HA is a ff partner of VA. Assume that will change to QF. Or maybe both like QR is to VA & QF.

Alaska Airlines + Hawaiian Airlines | Local Care, Global Reach

Two beloved brands on a single operating platform, supported in the future by a single, compelling loyalty offering.

localcareglobalreach.com

FAQ's Frequently Asked Questions | Alaska Airlines + Hawaiian Airlines

Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines to Combine, Expanding Benefits and Choice for Travelers Throughout Hawai‘i and the West Coast

SEATTLE and HONOLULU – 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...

newsroom.hawaiianairlines.com

Hawaiian Airlines - Wikipedia
List of Hawaiian Airlines destinations - Wikipedia
Alaska Airlines - Wikipedia
List of Alaska Airlines destinations - Wikipedia

The combined route map is interesting, AS becomes a true international airline.
Cannot see the routes expanding greatly in the short medium term from what AS & HA have now. Predominately USA west coast (AS) and USA - pacific (HA) destinations.

From the AS newslink

• Preserving outstanding brands: The combined airline will maintain both industry-leading Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines brands while integrating into a single operating platform, enabling the remarkable service and hospitality of each to be enjoyed by passengers with continued excellence in operational reliability, trust and guest satisfaction for which both companies have been consistently recognized.

<snip>

• 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.

 

[Andy72]

I have flow both, definitely good news for one world. Another way to get to the US.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Having HA in Oneworld might make QF reconsider that direct flight into Seattle option more seriously now.

 

[levelnine]

Huge news. Will be interesting to see what it does with competition on Transpac routes. Hope HA/AS doesn't withdraw capacity from Australia and basically cede everything to their OW partner (a la AA & QF). Airfares to Hawaii are already egregious.

 

[justinbrett]

This is huge news.

As for QF, they already have somewhat friendly relations with HA, QF sells HA domestic flights (within Hawaii)

Actually I think a MEL/BNE-HNL service on QF is a bit more likely now if QF & HA are allowed to codeshare (granted, that's a big if).

Regardless, it means you can book award SYD-HNL and revenue HNL-CONUS (or vice versa) and QF will through check, once they are in oneworld.

Oneworld has definitely become the dominate alliance in the US.

 

[dairyfloss]

Wow - I wonder if this might be the beginning of the end for QF's rather 'aspirational' J fares on SYD<>HNL

 

[justinbrett]

I think it's almost certain HA will dump VA; the HA loyalty system is being disbanded and will merge with AS - which is already a partner of QF.

Even if they do an arms length codeshare agreement (like QF & NZ) that doesn't require regulatory authorisation.

I'm tipping it won't be long until the CONUS routes are rebranded to Alaska, leaving HA for inter-island and international out of HNL. I wouldn't even rule out the SYD service rebranding as AS to encourage Aussies to use them to fly to the mainland - a good option for west coast destinations.

Huge news. Will be interesting to see what it does with competition on Transpac routes. Hope HA/AS doesn't withdraw capacity from Australia and basically cede everything to their OW partner (a la AA & QF). Airfares to Hawaii are already egregious.

I actually think the Y fares to HNL are very cheap - the J fares are extortionate (which is odd for a leisure destination).

HA already withdrew from BNE & AKL so not much capacity left to withdraw.

 

[RooFlyer]

Great news, but I can’t see anything much changing from Australian departure point of view, except for perhaps better connections on the US West Coast.

It will be very interesting how the VA relationship with HA pans out. If Alaska are maintaining the brands as they say, it hopefully won’t change.

 

[levelnine]

I actually think the Y fares to HNL are very cheap - the J fares are extortionate (which is odd for a leisure destination).

What is Y? Never heard of it.

Post automatically merged: Dec 4, 2023

HA already withdrew from BNE & AKL so not much capacity left to withdraw.

And this may quash all hopes of that returning.

 

[SYD]

HA already withdrew from BNE & AKL so not much capacity left to withdraw.

AKL is shown on the HA network map at the first link in post #1. So maybe it’s returning…?

Also, probably just as well the SYD QF J lounge is getting that refurb (for those who use it). More mouths to feed soon! Fortunately HA 452 is a late night departure when things are generally quieter.

 

[exceladdict]

Awesome news. Was hoping to visit Hawaii sometime. Will wait for this!

 

[justinbrett]

AKL is shown on the HA network map at the first link in post #1. So maybe it’s returning…?

Ah, I had that wrong, AKL is now a seasonal route (in SH summer / NH winter).

 

[justinbrett]

It will be very interesting how the VA relationship with HA pans out. If Alaska are maintaining the brands as they say, it hopefully won’t change.

It has to change because the loyalty systems are merging. QF and AS have been good friends even before AS were in oneworld, and they get a lot of business from QF connections, so I don't see them defecting (noting VA partners with UA, their rival).

Besides VA & HA are hardly partners at all. Zero benefits flying each other and you have to call up to book awards. From what I can see VA no longer codeshares on HA metal, nor are HA revenue flights bookable on the VA website. I don't think much will be missed.

Outside chance the Australian domestic codeshare deal might continue, but doesn't seem likely.

 

[http_x92]

Will be interesting how the fare rules for SCs and points turn out for HA flights if they do go into oneworld. Simpler and fairer rules might apply for HA ex-SYD (earn is halved) but probably the AS rate for CONUS flights from HNL (which is still pretty good)

 

[DC3]

What is Y? Never heard of it

 

[dairyfloss]

Ah, I had that wrong, AKL is now a seasonal route (in SH summer / NH winter).

<footnotes for multi-segment status run potential...>

 

[HS-TQE]

Besides VA & HA are hardly partners at all. Zero benefits flying each other and you have to call up to book awards. From what I can see VA no longer codeshares on HA metal, nor are HA revenue flights bookable on the VA website. I don't think much will be missed.

Outside chance the Australian domestic codeshare deal might continue, but doesn't seem likely.

IIRC it wound down to a reduced FF/redemption partnership sometime post-COVID. It wouldn't surprise me if HA will be eventually phased out from Velocity like with EY/DL.

Pre-COVID HA/VA had a slightly larger codeshare and FF partnership

Virgin Australia Codeshare | Hawaiian Airlines

MetaDescription

www.hawaiianairlines.com

 

[justinbrett]

IIRC it wound down to a reduced FF/redemption partnership sometime post-COVID. It wouldn't surprise me if HA will be eventually phased out from Velocity like with EY/DL.

Pre-COVID HA/VA had a slightly larger codeshare and FF partnership

Virgin Australia Codeshare | Hawaiian Airlines

MetaDescription

www.hawaiianairlines.com

I would imagine the point at which HawaiianMiles ceases to exist and is migrated to the combined AS/HA program, the link to Velocity will be severed.

It probably won't be all that gradual, I'd expect once they get approval for the acquisition they'll give notice to VA & VS (really the only two airlines that are an issue in oneworld) with an end date before HA switches.

I was just thinking, HA just moved from Sabre to Amadeus but AS uses Sabre - will they now switch back? That's gotta hurt.

 

[Himeno]

It probably won't be all that gradual, I'd expect once they get approval for the acquisition they'll give notice to VA & VS (really the only two airlines that are an issue in oneworld) with an end date before HA switches.

HA also currently codeshares with UA and DL. Those might end with joining oneworld under AS.

HA codeshare partners

• Air China
• American Airlines
• China Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• Japan Airlines
• JetBlue
• Korean Air
• Philippine Airlines
• Turkish Airlines
• United Airlines
• Virgin Australia

Maybe a problem with the chinese carriers for CX, though CX might codeshare on HA in return.

 

[jakeseven7]

Big news.

Another good addition to OneWorld as well!