Will the Department of Justice scupper the Hawaiian Airlines – Alaska Airlines airline merger?
Financial commentators monitoring the airlines think so.
“The Department of Justice is unlikely to approve the $1.8 billion sale to Alaska Air. The antitrust regulator is preparing to challenge the combination,” Seeking Alpha wrote.
A decision by the Department of Justice is not due until August.
The DOJ has been tough on big mergers it sees harmful to consumer choice.
The Department previously blocked JetBlue’s takeover of Spirit Airlines.
This went to Federal court but JetBlue’s bid was ultimately unsuccessful.
The $3.8 billion Spirit – JetBlue airline merger was blocked and proved costly for JetBlue.
Alaska Air and Hawaiian fly to a combined 138 destinations.
Executives from Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines have recently held community events across Alaska to promote benefits of the merger.
In another market signal suggesting it could get blocked, Hawaiian Airlines has seen a double digit fall in its share price over the past week.
