Hawaii

Alaska-Hawaiian Airlines Merger: DOJ’s Ruling Expected Today – Potential Concessions Revealed – View from the Wing

Published

2 years ago

August 19, 2024

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Alaska-Hawaiian Airlines Merger: DOJ’s Ruling Expected Today – Potential Concessions Revealed

by Gary Leff on August 19, 2024

Unless there’s another extension, we’ll learn today whether the Department of Justice signs off on an Alaska Airlines – Hawaiian Airlines merger, or files suit against it. The parties have been negotiating feverishly over conditions that Alaska would agree to in order to avoid government opposition. And there’s some suggestion now about what concessions may be demanded.

The Biden administration has opposed most business combinations. They’ve had mixed success at best – except in the airline industry. They won verdicts against the JetBlue partnership with American Airlines and against JetBlue’s acquisition of Spirit, leaving the New York market less competitive and ultra-low cost carrier Spirit Airlines on the brink of collapse.

The deal doesn’t create monopoly or consolidation on inter-island flights within Hawaii, though many observers expect Alaska to reduce seat capacity on these frequently money-losing routes (though Hawaiian outperforms Southwest flying between the islands). These are brutal routes with low fares, and Alaska might offer fewer seats on regional jets which could lower costs and boost fares.
It would create some consolidation between the mainland and Hawaii, but these are highly competitive routes. United, American and Delta all are big players here as well.
There’s been no clamoring of opposition to the deal. Hawaiian politicians have been supportive. Unions haven’t been outraged.

All this suggests that a deal should be possible, notwithstanding that the Biden administration has opposed most forms of consolidation and cooperation (successfully in the airline industry, less so outside of it).

While it’s unclear what a deal could look like that allows Alaska Airlines to move forward with its acquisition of Hawaiian without DOJ opposition, I suggested two possibilities directly related to the acquisition.

Route guarantees. Alaska could agree to maintain existing flying between the islands for a certain period of time, or not to drop capacity for a period of time where Hawaiian and Alaska currently compete.
Gate space in Honolulu. They could be forced to give up some of their prime real estate to foster competition.

And I offered two potential, unrelated remedies that DOJ could seek.

Gates and slots at other congested airports. There’s no reason that remediation has to come in the form of routes or assets directly implicated by the merger. When US Airways wanted approval of its deal to acquire American one of the things it gave up was gate space at Dallas Love Field (ironically to Virgin America, since acquired by Alaska, though partially now utilized by Delta rather than a small low cost airline).
Alaska’s assets in this regard are limited – beyond-perimeter slots at Washington’s National airport, some slots at New York JFK, but they could be asked to give up prime real estate in Seattle or San Francisco (for instance).
The West Coast Alliance Alaska partners with American Airlines, DOJ could be asking Alaska to choose – Hawaiian or American. Dropping American Airlines codesharing wouldn’t be especially impactful to passengers. While status members would miss reciprocal upgrades, as long as Alaska remains in oneworld most of the benefits for customers would remain. And American hasn’t really taken advantage of the partnership – they haven’t built up the Pacific hub in Seattle they had planned.

Beat of Hawaii suggests that the two items under discussion are, in fact, the two directly-related items that I offered.

DOJ might impose conditions on the merger, such as a commitment to maintain current seat capacities and flight frequencies on interisland routes for a certain period, possibly for up to a decade. This would ensure that Alaska Airlines does not reduce service levels, which could lead to increased pricing and diminished accessibility for Hawaii’s residents.
…DOJ could require Alaska to relinquish some of its control over key airports like Honolulu (HNL) and Seattle (SEA) to prevent anti-competitive behavior. To us, that appears a less likely concern than the interisland issue.

Hawaiian shareholders are on edge – the deal gets them a huge premium, and share price will likely drop markedly if DOJ files suit. The airline is on shakier ground than the largest carriers.

Alaska is overpaying for relatively limited assets, but gains widebodies and some experience in transpacific flying.

HawaiianMiles members will see their miles become much more valuable, assuming an almost inevitable 1:1 conversion into Alaska’s Mileage Plan. But there might be some needed consolidation along the way, as well as presaging Alaska’s expansion into long haul, as long as DOJ doesn’t kill this like they killed competition in the Northeast and the ultra-low cost carrier market.

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Hawaii

‘Surreal’: Flood victims near UH Manoa prepare for third storm

Published

20 hours ago

April 8, 2026

Press Room

‘Surreal’: Flood victims near UH Manoa prepare for third storm

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Anxiety ran high in Manoa ahead of Wednesday’s impending storm, which comes about two weeks after a second Kona low flooded 14 residential units along Koali Road.

It was not the first time the homes were swamped in recent months.

Last November, a water main break overflowed the same ground-level units near UH Manoa, causing extensive damage.

Now, as tenants clean up and repair their homes after the latest storm, they are bracing for yet another storm expected to hit Wednesday.

“It sounds like a movie, it sounds a little surreal, a little not real,” Koali Road resident Carlos Jimenez said.

Jimenez, whose home was flooded both times, recalled the recent one, which covered his home in about two feet of water, describing the deluge as “a little bit above knee high.”

The damage to Jimenez’s unit went beyond the floor, too, because of the heavy rain.

“The ceiling got water-damaged. From what I saw, it was soaking water, sagging, and it was about to collapse,” Jimenez said.

Fortunately, crews repaired his roof days before the third storm could send another round of downpours.

Outside, both of Jimenez’s vehicles sat damaged and dead.

After all that he has seen at his Koali Road home, Jimenez said he would take the new storm seriously.

“Get ready, you know, with my mother. She lives with me. She’s 87,” Jimenez said.

After witnessing the devastation in the neighborhood, Jimenez’s neighbor, Dario Aricala, whose home was spared, is not taking it for granted during this week’s wet weather.

“The last storm, we almost got flooded. We are hoping for the best that this storm is not such bad,” Aricala said.

Click here to donate to Jimenez’s GoFundMe page.

In the meantime, other residents have been staying elsewhere during cleanup and repairs, and the property manager said he has been helping them.

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Hawaii

Flood Watch issued across Hawaii as kona low system brings risk of heavy rain and flood

Published

1 day ago

April 7, 2026

Press Room

Flood Watch issued across Hawaii as kona low system brings risk of heavy rain and flood

A statewide Flood Watch is in effect across Hawaii from Wednesday morning, April 8, through Friday afternoon, April 10, as a developing low-pressure system northwest of the islands, described by the National Weather Service (NWS) public guidance as a kona low, is forecast to bring prolonged heavy rainfall and elevated flood risk.

The NWS office in Honolulu reports that the system will draw deep tropical moisture northward across the state, creating conditions favorable for widespread showers and thunderstorms. Excessive rainfall may lead to flash flooding in urban areas, low-lying locations, and regions with poor drainage, while steep terrain remains susceptible to landslides.

All major islands, including Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, and the Big Island, are included in the Flood Watch. Forecasters note that antecedent wet conditions from recent rainfall events have left soils saturated, increasing runoff efficiency and the likelihood of rapid stream rises under heavier rainfall rates.

Satellite image acquired at 04:00 UTC on April 7, 2026. Credit: NOAA/GOES-West, RAMMB/CIRA, The Watchers

Multiple kona low systems affected the islands between March 10 and March 22, producing extreme rainfall totals, including more than 330 mm (13 inches) in about 12 hours on Oʻahu’s North Shore and multi-day accumulations reaching approximately 1 170 mm (46 inches) on Maui.

The events triggered widespread flooding, landslides, evacuations, and infrastructure stress, including emergency warnings tied to Wahiawā Dam and power outages affecting more than 130 000 customers statewide.

Despite several days of drier trade wind conditions, soil moisture remains elevated, allowing new rainfall to convert more efficiently into surface runoff, increasing the likelihood of rapid stream rises and flash flooding under the current forecast system.

The heaviest rainfall associated with the new system is forecast to develop during the midweek period, with conditions deteriorating from Wednesday into Thursday as the low-pressure system strengthens west of the state. Forecast guidance indicates that the western islands may experience the initial phase of heavier rainfall before activity gradually shifts eastward later in the event.

In addition to heavy rain, the system is expected to generate strong southerly winds, with gusts of 64–80 km/h (40–50 mph) possible across many areas and locally stronger gusts exceeding 93 km/h (58 mph) in exposed locations or near convective activity. A Wind Advisory may be issued as conditions develop.

Winter weather conditions are also possible at higher elevations on the Big Island, resulting in a Winter Storm Watch in effect for summits above 3 810 m (12 500 feet), where a combination of snow and freezing rain is forecast during the same period.

Heavy rainfall is likely to persist into Thursday and Friday, with the flash-flood threat remaining elevated into the weekend, but periods of heavy rain may continue beyond the initial peak as moisture remains in place around the system.

The setup reflects a kona low pattern, characterized by a low-pressure system northwest of the islands producing southerly flow and transporting deep tropical moisture into the region over multiple days.

References:

¹ Area Forecast Discussion for Hawaii – NWS Honolulu – April 7, 2026

² Flood Watch – NWS Honolulu – April 7, 2026

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Hawaii

Emergency supplies selling fast as another storm threatens Hawaii

Published

2 days ago

April 6, 2026

Press Room

Emergency supplies selling fast as another storm threatens Hawaii

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Oahu residents aren’t taking any chances with emergency preparedness ahead of the latest round of severe weather.

City Mill has been working to keep shelves stocked with supplies.

“We’ve been selling a lot of sand and sandbags. We have a product called Quick Dam, and we have sold out at a couple stores. We’re trying to move them around so that everybody has something,” City Mill Merchant Iris Wilhelm-Norseth said.

Tape, batteries and flashlights have also been moving quickly among customers, along with pumps and rain boots.

City Mill and other officials are stressing emergency preparedness as recent storms have shown flooding can happen anywhere at any time.

“The little flash flood in Manoa kind of flipped people out too. That came out of nowhere. So people are very concerned,” she added.

Hawaiian Electric said it is also ready, following emergency preparedness procedures to ensure communities aren’t left without power for prolonged periods.

“It doesn’t take a named storm to really cause significant damage to the public infrastructure, whether it’s roads or other types of infrastructure, or the electrical, grid. We know that these heavy rains and very strong winds can have significant impacts,” HECO spokesperson Darren Pai said.

If the Public Safety Power Shutoff program is implemented, the utility said it would be a coordinated decision with emergency responders in the interest of keeping communities safe.

The Board of Water Supply is also asking customers to store water in case service is interrupted for an extended time.

And for storm supplies that don’t get put to use this time around, officials say not to toss them too quickly.

“This is also a great opportunity for people if they don’t use it to hold on to it because we are going into hurricane season starting in May again,” Wilhelm-Norseth added.

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