The proposed $1.9 billion merger between Alaska Airlines (NYSE:ALK) and Hawaiian Airlines by Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:HA) has received clearance from the U.S. Justice Department, marking a significant step forward in the deal announced eight months ago. The merger is now pending approval from the U.S. Transportation Department.
What Happened: The Justice Department's period for antitrust investigation concluded without any lawsuit to halt the merger, CNBC reported on Tuesday. This comes on the heels of the DOJ's January victory in court, blocking JetBlue Airways' acquisition of Spirit Airlines. The DOJ also won a lawsuit last year that dissolved a partnership between JetBlue and American Airlines in the Northeast.
If the Transportation Department gives its nod, this merger will be the biggest among U.S. carriers since Alaska Airlines' merger with Virgin America eight years prior. The merged entity would operate as a single platform, boasting a fleet of over 360 airplanes and covering more than 130 destinations.
Despite facing numerous challenges such as the Maui wildfires, increased competition from Southwest Airlines, and a slower recovery of travel to and from Asia post-Covid-19, Hawaiian Airlines has seen its shares surge by nearly 12% this quarter.
Why It Matters: The merger, first announced in December 2023, is expected to offer customers a wider range of domestic and international options, while both airlines will retain their individual brands, a decision influenced by their nearly century-long history and the communities they serve.
The development comes amid Alaska Airlines' financial health which has been under scrutiny. In August, Alaska Air's stock hit a technical milestone known as a Death Cross, indicating a potential continuation of the stock's downward trajectory. The stock was already down 7.93% year-to-date and 20.83% over the past year.
Price Action: On Monday, Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. stock fell and closed 4.39% lower at $15.88 while Alaska Airlines saw a slight increase of 0.52% at its close of $34.96, according to Benzinga Pro.
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This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Pooja Rajkumari
阿拉斯加航空公司（NYSE:ALK）和夏威夷航空公司（NASDAQ:HA）拟以 19 亿美元的价格合并夏威夷控股公司（NASDAQ:HA）的交易已获得美国司法部的批准，标志着八个月前宣布的交易向前迈出了重要一步。该合并案目前正在等待美国交通部的批准。
发生了什么：CNBC周二报道，司法部的反垄断调查期结束时没有提起任何停止合并的诉讼。在此之前，司法部于1月份在法庭上获胜，阻止了捷蓝航空对Spirit Airlines的收购。去年，司法部还赢得了一场诉讼，该诉讼解散了捷蓝航空与美国航空在东北部的合作伙伴关系。
如果运输部点头，这次合并将是自八年前阿拉斯加航空与维珍美国航空合并以来美国航空公司中规模最大的合并。合并后的实体将作为单一平台运营，拥有一支由360多架飞机组成的机队，覆盖130多个目的地。
尽管面临诸如毛伊岛野火、来自西南航空的竞争加剧以及COVID-19后往返亚洲的旅行恢复放缓等众多挑战，但夏威夷航空的股价在本季度仍上涨了近12％。
为何重要：此次合并于2023年12月首次宣布，预计将为客户提供更广泛的国内和国际选择，而两家航空公司都将保留各自的品牌，这一决定受其近一个世纪的历史和所服务的社区的影响。
这一事态发展是在阿拉斯加航空的财务状况一直受到审查之际发生的。8月，阿拉斯加航空的股票达到了一个名为死亡十字架的技术里程碑，这表明该股的下跌趋势可能会延续。该股今年迄今已下跌7.93％，在过去一年中下跌了20.83％。
价格走势：根据Benzinga Pro的数据，周一，夏威夷控股公司股价下跌4.39％，至15.88美元，而阿拉斯加航空在收盘时小幅上涨0.52％，收于34.96美元。
照片来自 Shutterstock
这个故事是使用 Benzinga Neuro 创作的，由 Pooja Rajkumari
