In a major operational and regulatory milestone, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines have been awarded a single operating certificate (SOC) by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), effectively consolidating Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines integration. This is a milestone in the overall integration under Alaska Air Group, as Hawaiian was acquired by Alaska.
The SOC will imply that while Alaska and Hawaiian will keep flying under their respective brands, they will be a unified carrier from a regulatory perspective, ranging from training to procedures, manuals and call‑signs. As part of the Alaska Airlines Hawaiian Airlines SOC milestone, flights will fly using the callsign ‘AS’ (Alaska) for the merged airline and other back‑end systems will start to consolidate.
Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines integration: Why SOC Matters?
What the SOC means for Alaska and Hawaiian? A single operating certificate is not only a symbolic gesture; it is the foundation of regulatory consolidation. The FAA grants such certificates to a single carrier and to put two previously distinct airlines under a single certificate is to synchronise training programs, safety structures, operational guides and procedures.
For Alaska Hawaiian merger single certificate, the SOC represents the merger of two separate operating entities into a single carrier umbrella company for Alaska Air Group. As one CEO described it, “This was a year‑long, multi‑phase effort involving multiple departments and thousands of hours of work.”
What Does This Mean to Passengers?
From a traveller’s perspective, the Alaska Air Group integration update may be subtle for now but meaningful. You will continue to book flights with Hawaiian or Alaska, experience the familiar brand identity and use your existing loyalty‑program benefits.
Behind the scenes, though, integration is underway: flight numbers may change for Hawaiian flights to remove duplication and future passenger‑service platforms will allow easier cross‑brand bookings.
By the following spring, a single passenger service system (PSS) is planned to be rolled out, meaning a combined reservation and travel experience platform for both brands.
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Things to Keep in Mind
- The complete transition to a common passenger service system is anticipated for 2026.
- Flight numbers and branding changes: While Hawaiian flights will still have the HA designator for the time being, flight numbers will likely change a lot and then eventually the whole AS designator will be used.
- The complete merger of pilot seniority lists, joint labour contracts and flight attendant/workforce unions is yet to be completed.
- On the consumer front, although benefits are defined, travellers can continue to encounter transitional friction as the merger goes on.
Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines integration
The award of the single operating certificate to Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines is more than regulatory boilerplate; it is a major milestone in the way the two carriers will operate going forward. By coming together under one certificate, the combined carrier is well-placed to provide operational efficiency, network power and a more convenient travel experience, yet still retain differentiated brand identities familiar to passengers.
