December 8, 2023
NerdWallet recently published an article featuring Florian Ederer, Professor of Markets, Public Policy, and Law, discussing the merging of networks and loyalty programs between Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines.
Despite consumer and legal concerns over the merger, such as higher fares and fewer flights available for travelers, Alaska and Hawaiian’s partnership is likely to succeed.
“It’s not quite as fiercely anti-competitive as some of those other arrangements or mergers…now, that’s not to say there’s no anti-competitive concern. If you look at the market shares of flights from the U.S. mainland to Hawaii, Hawaiian is the largest carrier. And in fourth place is, already, Alaska Airlines,” Ederer adds.
Even after the merger, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines would remain separate brands and operate planes with different paint schemes and logos.
