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Alaska Airlines has entered an agreement to acquire Hawaiian Airlines for $1.9 billion, including $900 million of the carrier's net debt. According to Sunday's announcement, Alaska Airlines will acquire Hawaiian Airlines for $18 per share in cash. The airlines say the deal will unlock more destinations throughout the Pacific region, continental United States and globally. The deal is expected to generate high single-digit earnings accretion for Alaska Airlines within the first two years with no anticipated material impact on long-term balance sheet metrics. 'This combination is an exciting next step in our collective journey to provide a better travel experience...

A pilot on a Hawaiian Airlines flight said a plume-like cloud “shot” in front of the plane moments before severe turbulence that left more than two dozen people injured and damaged the aircraft last month, federal officials said Friday. The pilot, a captain on the Dec. 18 flight from Phoenix to Honolulu, said conditions were smooth and on-board weather radar showed no turbulence as they flew above a layer of cirrostratus clouds at an altitude of between 37,000 and 38,000 feet, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a preliminary report on the incident. Just after 10 a.m., when the...

Hawaiian Airlines said in a statement tonight it was determined that “a seal failed in the aircraft’s left engine, causing oil to leak onto hot parts of the plane’s engine and air conditioning pressurization system, resulting in smoke in the cabin.” The airline said performance of the engine was not affected. Passengers on a Hawaiian Airlines flight had to evacuate the plane from emergency slides this morning after it landed in Honolulu due to reports of smoke in the cargo hold and cabin. All passengers and crew evacuated the aircraft and seven passengers were taken to hospitals with smoke inhalation...

The flight attendant who died of a heart attack on a New York-bound plane was identified Friday as Emile Griffith, a 30-year Hawaiian Airlines veteran, officials said. Griffith collapsed on Hawaiian Airlines Flight 50 from Honolulu to Kennedy Airport on Thursday night, prompting an emergency landing in San Francisco, the company said in a statement.

It’s the latest addition to its expanding international network and seventh Asian gateway destination. The departure of HA 807 followed gate side festivities that included Hawaiian music and hula, performance honoring the Taiwanese culture, traditional Hawaiian blessing, and presentation of lei to passengers boarding the inaugural flight. “The demand for service to Hawaii from the Taiwan market has been growing and we are delighted to respond to the strong interest by delivering our new non-stop service to and from Taipei,” Hawaiian Airlines President and CEO Mark Dunkerley said. “The Hawaiian Islands are the ideal midpoint destination, perfectly situated to offer...

PORTLAND, Oregon (Reuters) – An unruly passenger aboard a Hawaii-bound airliner on Wednesday prompted the pilot to return the plane to Portland, Oregon, escorted by two military fighter jets, in the latest of several U.S. aviation security scares this week. The Hawaiian Airlines jet en route to Maui's Kahului Airport turned back because of "a suspicious passenger who made threatening remarks and refused to store his carry-on bag," said Suzanne Trevino, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Transportation Security Administration. The plane, escorted by two F-15 fighters scrambled out of Portland International Airport, landed there without further incident, and the man,...

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Concerns over an unruly passenger forced a plane to turn around and head back to Portland Wednesday. The Maui-bound Hawaiian Airlines plane was turned around during the flight and landed safely at PDX. Officials with the Portland Air National Guard Base said two fighter jets were scrambled at 1 p.m. to escort the plane. Send pics Hawaiian Airlines said the situation was not security related Flight 39 left for Maui from PDX at 10:10 a.m. and was an hour-and-a-half into its direct flight when the crew turned the plane around and brought the plane citing issues with...

Hawaiian Airlines has asked the U.S. Department of Transportation to officially declare whether the governor's executive order forcing Hawaiian to withdraw from the Honolulu-Pago route is enforceable. The carrier, which has operated its flights in this market for more than 20 years, filed a petition for declaratory relief with DOT yesterday. A copy of their petition was cc'ed to Governor Togiola. Samoa News asked Togiola to comment on Hawaiian Air's petition to DOT and asked the governor's press officer Vince Iuli for an official statement. None was forthcoming as of press time yesterday evening. "We believe that the executive order...