Anti-trust lawsuit filed in push to stop Hawaiian-Alaska airlines merger
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Attorneys from Honolulu and San Francisco representing about 10 passengers filed an antitrust complaint against Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines in a push to stop the announced merger.
The filing says Alaska’s $1.9 billion acquisition would reduce competition for airlines flying Hawaii routes, force layoffs and increase fares.
The merger was announced in December and approved by shareholders in February.
“It’s almost one of the first things that happens is they start firing everyone,” Attorney Joseph Alioto said.
“They don’t need anybody, they don’t need the reservation services that Hawaiian offers, and their offices and everything in Honolulu, they don’t need that. And that will be gone in two seconds, and everything will be run out of Seattle.”
Plaintiff Attorney Joseph Alioto says if the airlines don’t agree to hold off on the merger, his group will file a preliminary injunction to block the deal.
Hawaiian Airlines has not responded to our request for comment.
Alaska Airlines released the following statement, “Lawsuits like this one are a normal occurrence in public company mergers, and we are not able to comment further on pending litigation.”
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