Aloha ‘Oe Asiana Airlines

Today marks the final day of operations for Asiana Airlines service between ICN and HNL. HL7732 (c/n 29174, l/n 481), the Star Alliance-liveried 777-28EER, is making today's final service as AAR232/231.  From 01 July, Korean Air will take over Asiana's five-times-per-week service as KAL8054/8053, with 787-9 DreamLiners flying the service.

This move is anticipation of the Asiana brand being retired as part of the acquisition by Korean Air, which total integration is scheduled to be completed this December.

01 July 2026 UPDATE

Korean Air's 787-9 DreamLiner HL7207 (c/n 34816, l/n 728) is making the first replacement flight as KAL8053/8054.

Korean Air And Asian Airlines Approve Merger

Airways Magazine reports via an Instagram post, that the board of directors for both Korean Air and Asiana Airlines voted to approve the merger of the two carriers today. Full integration into Korean Air is set for 17 December 2026.

USDOT Approves Allegiant / Sun Country Merger

The US Department of Transportation gave approval for the merger between Allegiant Air and Sun Country Airlines to proceed, with an expected closing date in mid-May. The two carriers will operate separately until a single operating certificate is obtained some time within the next 14 months.

Further information in this Aviation Week article.

With both airlines operating separately, it remains to be seen if Sun Country will fly Mountain West football teams to HNL for road games against the Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors for the 2026 season.

United Airlines CEO Hints At Merger With American Airlines

CH-Aviation reports that United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has posed the idea of a merger between his airline and American Airlines. No one is commenting on how far these talks have gone so far, but Kirby also approached some federal officials the possible merger.

If such a merger would take place, it would form the largest airline in the US, and possibly in the world, with a combined fleet of over 2,100 airliners.

Such a move as this will have to go through the federal government regulatory and antitrust process. It would be protested by Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Air Group, and the other smaller carriers.

ANALYSIS

If this merger were to happen, the effect on the Hawai‘i market would be impacted on two destinations, LAX and ORD, where service would have to be consolidated.

18 April 2026 UPDATE

American Airlines released a statement today, that said they are not interested nor pursuing a merger with United Airlines.

Sumisho Air Lease Begins Operations

Sumisho Air Lease, the merged companies of SMBC and Air Lease Corp., officially began operations as the largest aircraft leasing company as the merger was finalized today.

Further information in this SMBC news release.

Allegiant Airlines To Acquire Sun Country Airlines

Allegiant Airlines and Sun Country Airlines announced today that the former will acquire the latter in a cash and stock deal valued at over US$1.5B. This newly combined airline is subject to government regulations, then a single operating certificate under Allegiant's name, and headquartered in Las Vegas. Both airlines will continue to operate until the merger is approved.

Allegiant is currently adding the 737-8-200 to its fleet, with an initial order of 50 737-7s and 737-8-200s, with an option  for an additional 50, in January 2022. Currently, Allegiant as 16 737-8-200s in service, among its fleet of 127 airliners. In October 2023, the airline added an additional options for 80 more 737MAX. These 737MAXs will be replacing their Airbus A319-100 and A320-200s. Allegiant used to fly from HNL to LAS (then other cities) using 757-200s from 2012 to 2016.

Sun Country Airlines has a fleet of 68 737NGs, 65 737-800s and 3 737-900ERs. The airline does fly to HNL for college football charters for some of the Mountain West Conference opponents. Sun Country also has a twice-weekly charter flight between LAX and KOA as SCX8501/8502, with its VIP cabin-configured N839SY. The Minneapolis-based airline also has a subfleet of 20 737-800Fs flying for Amazon Prime Air. Sun Country also has two more 737-900ERs that have yet to be delivered from their purchase from Oman Air.

Further information in this Allegiant Airlines press release, and this Sun Country Airlines press release.

12 January 2026 UPDATE

FreightWaves.com reports that Sun Country they will add two 737-800Fs for their Amazon Prime Air operations.

SMBC To Acquire Air Lease Corporation

SMBC, the aircraft leasing arm of Sumitomo Bank, entered into an agreement to purchase Air Lease Corporation (ALC). The former has over 740 airliners in their portfolio, and the latter has a portfolio of over 160 airliners. The new company will be named Sumisho Air Lease, and will have a portfolio of over 1,100 airliners (including airframes on order).

Some of their airliners have stopped through Hawai‘i over the course of the years as new deliveries, and lease returns. Most recently were the two ex-Spirit Airlines A321-271NXs that ferried through HNL on their way to TPE for lease to China Airlines.

Further information in this Air Lease Corporation press release, and this Sumitomo Corporation press release.

Republic Airways To Acquire Mesa Airlines

Republic Airlines is acquiring Mesa Airlines in an all-stock purchase. These two airlines don't currently serve Hawai‘i in any capacity. However, in the mid-2000s, both airlines had inter-island service. Mesa's go! launched in 2006 with CRJ-200s, and ceased operations in 2014. Republic's Shuttle America provided ERJ-170s in 2008 under the Mokulele Airlines brand, and operated for a year. Mesa's go! also partnered with Mokulele, following the Republic pull-out.

Republic Airways Holdings will be the surviving brand in the merger, as they are the larger company. Republic flies regional service for American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines; while Mesa's remaining regional partner was United.

Further details in this CH-Aviation article.

Korean Air / Asiana Airlines Merger To Close This Month

CH-Aviation reports that with an anticipated official approval announcement from the US Department of Justice, the merger between Korean Airlines and Asiana Airlines is expected to close sometime this month. The approval from the USDOJ is the final piece of the puzzle to allow the merger between the two largest airlines in the Republic of Korea, with Korean Air taking the reins. The Asiana brand will last another two years, before it's absorbed into the Korean Air brand. Multiple concessions by both airlines had to be made before any approval was given by transport ministries around the world, especially where the two airlines serve.

Also, as part of the merger, Asiana Airlines' low-cost subsidiaries (Air Busan and Air Seoul) will be combined under Korean Air's LCC, Jin Air.

Alaska Airlines Completes Merger With Hawaiian Airlines

After the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) granted an exemption to allow the transfer of international routes, it cleared the way for the Alaska Airlines / Hawaiian Airlines merger to proceed with the completion of the merger of the two airlines. The two airlines will operate separately, even after they come under one operating certificate.

Further information in the Alaska Airlines press release.

Hawaiian / Alaska Merger Moves One Step Closer

With the US Department of Justice (USDOJ) clearing the merger between Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines, the next step is approval from the US Department of Transportation (USDOT). The USDOJ had until today to make any ruling against the merger during its review period, but since none was issued, the merger is now in the hands of the USDOT. No timetable was set by the USDOT as to when they will render a decision.

Six days ago, a US District Court judge dismissed a class-action consumer lawsuit meant to block the merger. Several consumers claimed that the merger would raise airfares of the routes both airlines serve.

Alaska Airlines To Acquire Hawaiian Airlines

Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines announced this morning that the former will acquire the latter for $1.9B USD. Part of the agreement is that both airlines will operate as separate entities. It will be similar to how IAG operates British Airways and Iberia, or the AirFrance / KLM conglomerate, or locally, the the Southern Airways / Mokulele operation. Of all the Hawai‘i - west coast routes that the two airlines, there are only 12 that need to be consolidated. The acquisition will need approval by federal agencies.

Further information in this Alaska Airlines press release, this Hawaiian Airlines press release, and the acquisition website Local Care, Global Reach.

Qantas And Alliance To End Buyout Proceedings

News.com.au reports that both Qantas Airways and Alliance Airlines announced that they will end the buyout proceedings, and continue as separate entities, with Qantas maintaining its 20% stake in Alliance. The 611 million AUD deal fell through as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission opposed the buyout in April 2023, and Qantas appealed the decision.

Qantas, however, will exercise an option for four more Alliance E190s to be used for QantasLink's regional service.

Alliance has plans to acquire 30 ERJ-190ARs from AerCap, and currently leased to jetBlue Airways, with deliveries beginning later this year, and lasting to 2025. Nothing was mentioned in report regarding these 30 E190s.

Qantas Makes Bid To Acquire Alliance Airlines

Simple Flying reports that Qantas Airways has made a AU$614M offer to acquire the remaining shares in Alliance Airlines, whom they already have nearly 20% ownership. Alliance already has a portion of their ERJ-190AR fleet painted in QantasLink colors (top photo). This deal would make Alliance a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Qantas Group. It will need approval by Australian commerce regulators before the acquisition can take place.

Alliance uses HNL as a stopover point as their ERJ-190ARs deliver from SJO to BNE.

Further information in this article by CH-Aviation.

Korean Air To Acquire Asiana Airlines

In a move to bolster South Korean commercial air travel, Korean Air announced today that they acquiring rival Asiana Airlines for over $1.6B USD. This merger would put the new Korean Air in the top ten in terms of airline size. The move by Korean Air's parent company Hanjin KAL, was partially due to the effects of the China Corona Virus pandemic on the airline industry as a whole. Prior to the pandemic, Asiana was experiencing financial troubles, and the current state of affairs made their situation much worse. This move should ensure the survivability of the South Korean airline industry, especially when it comes to international routes. The combined fleet will be over 250 aircraft with many common types.

Further details in this SamChui.com article.

Mokulele Airlines And Makani Kai Air To Merge

Mokulele Airlines announced that they will be merging with Makani Kai Air, combining inter-island operations to the smaller Hawai‘i airports. Mokulele also announced that they will start non-stop service between HNL and LNY.

Makani Kai Air's four Cessna C208Bs will be transferred.

Further information in this MauiWatch.com article.

Virgin America Brand To Disappear In 2019

Alaska Airlines announced today, that the Virgin America brand will be going away at an undetermined date in 2019. Elements of Virgin America's in-flight service will be retained, and incorporated into the Alaska Airlines in-flight service and experience.

Further details in this Alaska Airlines press release.

Alaska To Buyout Virgin America

Alaska Airlines announced today that they are buying out Virgin America for an aggregate price of $4 billion, and creating the west coast's premier carrier. The buyout will expand Alaska's presence in California, as Virgin America's two hubs are at SFO and LAX. Of course, this buyout will require government approval that is expected by January 2017.

Alaska will decide the future of Virgin America's 60 A319s and A320s (as well as the latter's orders with Airbus), as it could either keep the VRD fleet, or sell it off and order more 737s.

Further information in this Alaska Airlines press release, and this Virgin America press release.

Southwest / AirTran Acquisition Complete

The acquisition of AirTran (FL/TRS) by Southwest Airlines (WN/SWA) was completed today at Dallas' Love Field. AirTran will begin integration into Southwest, and should have a single operating certificate by early 2012.

(Top) Southwest's 737-7H4, N747SA (c/n 29799, l/n 306), was photographed at LAS, taxiing to Runway 7L from Terminal B.

(Above) AirTran's 737-76N N287AT (c/n 32671, l/n 1925), was photographed at LAX, on final to Runway 24R.

Southwest's message published on their website.

Horizon Brand Migrates to Alaska

The Horizon Air (QX/QXA) brand has migrated to parent company Alaska Airlines. It will still remain a separate entity, but the Alaska Airlines livery will be adopted with the Horizon titles integrated on their Dash8-Q400 fleet. On board, the Horizon experience will not change.

The Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air press release.

Pictured above, is Horizon's Dash8-Q400, N411QX (msn 4055), on final approach for LAX's Runway 24R, taken in November 2010.