US airlines set for unlikely merger

Two most unlikely allies are to come together to create a new US airline powerhouse.

The US Justice department this week gave the all-clear for an Alaska Airlines-Hawaiian airline merger, Travel Mole reports

The $US1.9 billion deal cements Alaska’s place as the fifth-largest US airline. 

The Biden administration found no significant barriers to the deal, although it comes with some conditions.

The airlines must continue operating the same frequency of flights on routes with little outside competition and continue subsidized flights to remote communities in Alaska and Hawaii.

The airlines must also maintain the value of frequent-flyer rewards when the two loyalty programs are integrated.

Alaska Airlines says it expects to close the airline merger “in the coming days”.

The Transportation Department has to now formally approve the airline merger.

Alaska Air is the dominant partner in the deal, but said it plans to preserve the Hawaiian Airlines name.

Hawaiian Airlines to return to Australian skies

Hawaiian Airlines will resume its five-times weekly service to Sydney from Honolulu in December, the airline has announced. 

Hawaiian halted the service at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020.

Hawaiian will restart Sydney flights on Tuesdays and Thursday through Sunday starting from December 15, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser newspaper reported.

"We are thrilled to reconnect Hawaii and Australia and have been encouraged by the public's response to Australia's national vaccination program," said Andrew Stanbury, regional director for Australia and New Zealand at Hawaiian Airlines. 

Only Australian citizens and permanent residents are currently permitted to enter Australia but Australians able to travel overseas.

“Hawaii is a hugely popular holiday destination for Australians, and we know many people have been keenly waiting to take a Hawaiian vacation,” Stanbury said. 

“We are looking forward to safely welcoming our guests back on board to enjoy the authentic hospitality we know our guests love and have missed.”

This latest restoration of Hawaiian service follows an announcement from Governor David Ige last week that starting November 1, Hawaii would welcome back vaccinated travellers. 

In addition to non-stop flights o Hawaii, the carrier’s extensive US domestic network allowing them to travel to 16 US mainland gateways – including new destinations in Austin, Orlando, and Ontario, California. 

Hawaiian will continue to operate the SYD-HNL route with its 278-seat, wide-body Airbus A330 aircraft.