Alaska Airlines absorption of Hawaiian has taken another significant step with the issuance of a single Operator Certificate by the Federal Aviation Administration. That means that the two airlines that have been operating under one ownership since last year are now one airline operating under two different brand names.
The airline has repeatedly said it intends to maintain two different personalities for its brands while linking loyalty systems, administration and staffing. While the call sign used in communication will now be AS for all flights, flight numbers will continue to be HA or AS, although some flights are being renumbered to avoid duplication.
The Passenger Service System, which handles most aspects of tickets and booking, will be fully merged by next spring.
Since the merger, Alaska has utilized Hawaiian planes and staff for a number of new long-haul routes, part of its strategy shift; those flights will now become Alaska flights, under the new certificate. Prior to the merger, Alaska flew only 737s, while Hawaiian also had a mix of A330s and 787s. The 787s have largely been shifted to routes now operated under the Alaska name.
