Alaska Airlines to buy Hawaiian Airlines in $1.9 billion deal

Alaska Airlines has reached a deal to buy Hawaiian Airlines, the company announced Sunday.

Alaska Air Group, Inc. will pay $18 a share — a transaction value of approximately $1.9 billion — for Hawaiian Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Hawaiian Airlines. 

The boards of both companies have agreed on the deal, which is expected to close in 12-18 months, according to a statement from the airlines. The deal still needs the approval of U.S. regulators as well as Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. shareholders. 

Regulatory approval is not a guarantee. The Justice Department is currently trying to block JetBlue's proposed acquisition of Spirit Airlines. Earlier this year, a federal judge ruled JetBlue and American Airlines needed to end their partnership, saying the alliance weakened competition and hurt consumers. Competition between airlines is the biggest cause of cheap flights, according to Scott Keyes, the founder of Going, a subscription service focused on finding airfare deals.

"A merger between these two airlines — whose route maps have dozens of flights that overlap — would result not in more cheap flights for consumers, but fewer," Keyes said about the Alaska-Hawaiin deal.

Under the terms of the new deal between Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, the combined organization will be based in Seattle under the leadership of Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci. On an investor call about the merger, Minicucci said that out of about 1,400 plus daily flights, they'll overlap in just 12 markets. The CEO said that he believes "that lands very well" for regulatory approval.

"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," Minicucci said in a statement.

The airlines said the move will preserve both brands and unlock more travel destinations for flyers. The combined company will offer service to 138 destinations, including non-stop service to 29 top international destinations in the Americas, Asia, Australia and the South Pacific, the statement said.

Hawaiin Airlines' fleet is varied, including the Airbus A330 and A321, Boeing 717s and an order for 12 Boeing 787s. Alaska is an all 737 fleet.

Hawaiian Airlines CEO Peter Ingram said Alaska Airlines approached Hawaiian about the merger. 

"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," Ingram said in a statement.

Earlier this year, travel website The Points Guy ranked Alaska Airlines as the third best airline in the U.S., after Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. Hawaiian Airlines took sixth place.

Alaska Air Group reached a deal in 2016 to buy Virgin America. Alaska Airlines later dropped the Virgin America name and logo.

Aliza Chasan

Aliza Chasan is a digital producer at 60 Minutes and CBSNews.com. She has previously written for outlets including PIX11 News, The New York Daily News, Inside Edition and DNAinfo. Aliza covers trending news, often focusing on crime and politics.

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