"Justice Department Skepticism: Impact of Alaska-Hawaiian Merger on Customers Revealed"

Alaska Air Group's $1.9 billion cash and debt acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines is expected to face scrutiny from the Justice Department, which has been skeptical of airline deals it deems anticompetitive. The Justice Department previously sued to block JetBlue's acquisition of Spirit Airlines, arguing that it would harm consumers through higher fares. The Alaska-Hawaiian deal differs in approach, with Alaska planning to keep separate brands, but experts still anticipate regulatory challenges. Alaska and Hawaiian executives defend the deal, citing little overlap and the ability to expand their networks. The deal is expected to take 12 to 18 months to close, potentially extending into a new administration.