Call usShow menu

DOT Clears Alaska-Hawaiian Merger Route Transfer

Alaska and Hawaiian jet tails side-by-side after DOT approval.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on July 14, 2025 approved the transfer of Hawaiian Airlines' international route authorities to Alaska Air Group, a pivotal milestone in the Alaska-Hawaiian merger. The decision allows Alaska to assume service to Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia, South Korea, and Japan under the Open Skies framework, clearing the runway for a broader global push from Seattle and Honolulu. Executives say the combined carrier can now funnel investment into new aircraft, lounges, and long-haul markets while posing stiffer competition to the Big Four U.S. airlines.

Key Points

  • Why it matters: opens the door for new long-haul service from the West Coast.
  • DOT approval finalizes the international route transfer under 49 U.S.C. § 41105(a).
  • Primary keyword Alaska-Hawaiian merger now has legal clearance to expand.
  • Existing Hawaiian flights keep their designators until a single FAA certificate arrives.
  • First post-approval launches: Seattle-Tokyo (May 12) and Seattle-Seoul (Sept 12).

Snapshot

DOT's order reissues Hawaiian's operating and economic authorities in Alaska's name while allowing both brands to keep flying under separate callsigns until federal officials grant a single operating certificate, expected by October 2025. The ruling covers routes to Papeete, Auckland, Sydney, Seoul, and Japan's Osaka, Fukuoka, and Tokyo airports, plus blanket authority to any Open Skies nation.

Background

Alaska announced plans on December 3, 2023 to buy Hawaiian for $1.9 billion in cash. Shareholders blessed the deal in February 2024, and the Justice Department declined to sue in August 2024. DOT granted an interim exemption on September 17, 2024 so the carriers could close the transaction, which they did the next day while maintaining separate certificates. The July 14, 2025 order is the final regulatory hurdle to integrate overseas flying.

Latest Developments

Alaska Air Group is already leveraging Hawaiian's Airbus A330 and Boeing 787-9 fleets to seed a new long-haul hub at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).

Seattle-Tokyo Narita

Daily wide-body service launched May 12, 2025, restoring nonstop connectivity previously missing from Alaska's schedule and giving Mileage Plan members lie-flat seats and Japanese menus.

Seattle-Seoul Incheon

A new daily flight begins September 12, 2025, timed for onward connections across North America and Asia through oneworld and Korean Air partners.

Rome on the Horizon

Alaska confirmed plans for SEA-Rome Fiumicino in May 2026, its first trans-Atlantic route, pending slot confirmation and Italian bilateral approvals.

Analysis

For travelers, the Alaska-Hawaiian merger promises a one-stop link between secondary U.S. cities and Asia-Pacific destinations that once required double connections. Competitive pressure could temper fares to Tokyo, Seoul, and Sydney while boosting loyalty perks: both Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles remain intact until a single program launches in 2026. Hawaiian's Honolulu hub retains inter-island capacity protections for at least six years, safeguarding essential service to Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, and Hilo. The international route transfer also lets Alaska diversify revenue beyond a domestic market dominated by American, Delta, Southwest, and United. Analysts expect $235 million in annual synergies by Year Three, largely from fleet optimization and joint procurement.

Final Thoughts

The DOT's green light on the international route transfer cements the Alaska-Hawaiian merger as the most significant U.S. airline consolidation in nearly a decade. Travelers should watch for introductory fares and new codeshare options as the combined carrier layers more wide-body flights onto its Seattle and Honolulu gateways. With brand identities preserved yet networks intertwined, the Alaska-Hawaiian merger is positioned to rewrite West Coast connectivity.

Sources

Topics

"The Adept Traveler is a Travel Agency located in Elgin, Illinois, that specilizes in helping everybody to travel better.  From the novice to the expert, from the able-bodied to the disabled traveler, it's our belief that everybody deserves to travel better."