Alaska Air Group announces interim Honolulu leadership team to guide combination with Hawaiian Airlines

Rhea-AI Summary

Alaska Air Group has announced the interim Honolulu leadership team that will guide Hawaiian Airlines operations following the acquisition. Joe Sprague, current Alaska Airlines regional president of Hawai'i/Pacific, will become CEO of Hawaiian Airlines. The team includes several senior executives from Hawaiian Airlines with nearly 65 years of combined experience. This transition follows the regulatory clearance for Alaska Airlines to acquire Hawaiian Airlines, announced in December 2023.

The combined company aims to expand flight options throughout the Pacific region, U.S. continent, and globally. It will operate as one organization with two separate airline operations under two individual operating certificates until the FAA grants a single operating certificate. The merger is expected to strengthen competition, create job opportunities, and maintain commitments to local communities and environmental stewardship.

Positive

• Acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines by Alaska Air Group received final regulatory clearance
• Combined company expected to expand flight options and destinations for consumers
• Merger aims to create a stronger platform for growth and competition in the U.S.
• Transaction expected to generate long-term job opportunities for employees
• Interim leadership team includes experienced executives with 65 years of combined experience at Hawaiian Airlines

Negative

• Current Hawaiian Airlines CEO Peter Ingram to step down following transaction close
• Transition period with two separate airline operations may lead to temporary operational complexities

SEATTLE and HONOLULU, Sept. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Air Group, the parent company of Alaska Airlines, announced today the interim Honolulu leadership team that will guide Hawaiian Airlines operations from transaction close through a full combination of operations under a single operating certificate with two brands – Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines.

Now that final clearance has been received from regulators, Alaska Airlines can close the transaction and shift focus to obtaining a single operating certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Until that time, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines will operate as one organization with two separate airline operations, under two individual operating certificates. The interim Honolulu leadership team will lead the Hawaiian Airlines operation during this time.

When the combination was announced, it was shared that Hawaiian Airlines President and CEO Peter Ingram would step down from his role following the transaction close. Current Alaska Airlines regional president of Hawai'i/Pacific, Joe Sprague, will be named chief executive officer of Hawaiian Airlines. In this role, Sprague will be responsible for leading all aspects of Hawaiian Airlines' operations until the FAA grants Alaska a single operating certificate.

In addition to Sprague, several senior executives from Hawaiian Airlines will comprise the interim Honolulu leadership team. These leaders, who collectively have nearly 65 years of experience with Hawaiian Airlines, include:

• EVP, Administration – Shannon Okinaka
• SVP, Human Resources – Robin Kobayashi
• SVP, Tech Ops (Maintenance & Engineering, Flight Ops and System Operations Control Center) – Jim Landers
• VP, Airport Operations and In-Flight – Lokesh Amaranayaka
• Managing Director, Safety – Terry Hill
• Director, Brand and Culture – Alisa Onishi

Additionally, the current regional VP of Hawai'i for Alaska Airlines, Daniel Chun, will serve on the Honolulu leadership team, overseeing community and cultural relations, government affairs and Hawai'i sales.

Current Hawaiian operations leaders Bob Johnson (VP, Flight Operations), Beau Tatsumura (VP, Maintenance & Engineering) and Tom Zheng (VP, Technical Operations Business Planning & Services) will continue to report to Jim Landers during this period. Justin Doane, VP, Labor & People Relations, will continue to support Hawaiian labor relations.

"We have a unique, once-in-a-generation opportunity to combine two incredible companies with aligned values and 90+ year legacies of serving and connecting local communities. I am deeply honored to work alongside these strong leaders from Hawaiian Airlines to lead the airline's people, operations, and brand through this transition while sustaining our commitments to safety and service," said Sprague.

In December 2023, Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE: ALK), and Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA) announced they entered into a definitive agreement under which Alaska Airlines will acquire Hawaiian Airlines. The combined company will unlock more destinations for consumers and expand choice of critical air service options and access throughout the Pacific region, U.S. continent 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. Once granted a single operating certificate, the two airlines will function as a single operation with two public-facing brands, Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines.

About Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines and our regional partners serve more than 128 destinations across the United States, the Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Mexico. We offer our guests a premium flying experience with award-winning customer service and an industry-leading loyalty program, Mileage Plan. With our fellow oneworld Alliance members and additional global partners, our guests have more choices than ever to purchase, earn or redeem on alaskaair.com across 30 airlines and more than 1,000 worldwide destinations. Learn more about Alaska at news.alaskaair.com and follow @alaskaairnews for news and stories. Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group. 

About Hawaiian Airlines
Now in its 95th year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawaiʻi's largest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers approximately 150 daily flights within the Hawaiian Islands, and nonstop flights between Hawaiʻi and 16 U.S. gateway cities – more than any other airline – as well as service connecting Honolulu and American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Tahiti. Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com . Follow Hawaiian's Twitter updates ( @HawaiianAir ), become a fan on Facebook ( Hawaiian Airlines ), and follow us on Instagram ( hawaiianairlines ). 

 

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SOURCE Alaska Air Group, Inc.

FAQ

Who will be the new CEO of Hawaiian Airlines after the Alaska Air Group acquisition?

Joe Sprague, current Alaska Airlines regional president of Hawai'i/Pacific, will be named chief executive officer of Hawaiian Airlines following the acquisition by Alaska Air Group (ALK).

When was the acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines by Alaska Air Group announced?

The acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines by Alaska Air Group (ALK) was announced in December 2023.

How will Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines operate after the acquisition?

Until the FAA grants a single operating certificate, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines will operate as one organization with two separate airline operations, under two individual operating certificates.

What are the expected benefits of the Alaska Air Group and Hawaiian Airlines merger?

The merger is expected to unlock more destinations for consumers, expand flight options, create long-term job opportunities, enable continued investment in local communities, and maintain environmental stewardship commitments.