AIRLINES & ALLIANCES

One Step Closer to Seamless Skies: Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines Achieve Key Integration Milestone

Alaska Airlines has announced a significant behind-the-scenes advance in its integration with Hawaiian Airlines: the successful completion of a key phase in combining their Passenger Service Systems (PSS). This integration marks a major step toward creating a seamless travel experience across both airlines — and passengers are beginning to see what that means in practice.

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Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines has announced a significant behind-the-scenes advance in its integration with Hawaiian Airlines: the successful completion of a key phase in combining their Passenger Service Systems (PSS). This integration marks a major step toward creating a seamless travel experience across both airlines — and passengers are beginning to see what that means in practice.

What Is the PSS, and Why It Matters

The PSS, or Passenger Service System, is the digital backbone that manages nearly every part of a customer’s journey — from booking and check-in to seat assignments, ticketing, and baggage handling. Aligning both airlines on one unified platform allows for consistent operations, reduced complexity, and a smoother experience for guests of either carrier.

Although the full system cutover is not scheduled until April 22, 2026, Alaska says this latest milestone represents a major building block in that transition.

What Changes You Might Notice (or Not)

What Remains Unchanged — For Now

• Existing bookings, including seat selections, remain exactly as they are.

• For travel scheduled before April 22, 2026, no action is required — all itineraries and reservations will proceed as planned.

What May Look Different Moving Forward

• For trips on or after April 22, 2026, travelers will be directed to a new multi-brand booking platformsupporting both Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines.

• The updated site will enable bookings in multiple languages and currencies, and display a full range of products and seat types across both carriers.

• On some external booking sites, flights may temporarily appear under the Alaska Airlines brand, even when operated by Hawaiian. These flights will show the disclosure “operated by Alaska as Hawaiian Airlines.”

• Some digital communications may display Alaska or Hawaiian branding that doesn’t match the purchased ticket. Alaska says its teams are resolving these inconsistencies, and no changes affect flight schedules or individual reservations.

What’s Also Changing: Codes, APIs, and Seat Names

As part of the integration, Alaska plans to retire Hawaiian’s NDC (New Distribution Capability) API once the full PSS migration is complete in 2026. Travel agents and partners currently using Hawaiian’s distribution systems will transition to Alaska’s unified framework.

Beginning in late 2025, flight numbering and carrier codes will start to shift. Hawaiian’s “HA” prefix will be replaced with Alaska’s “AS” code to standardize scheduling and booking across the network.

Additionally, seat and cabin names will be harmonized to maintain consistency between both airlines. The unified structure will include seat categories such as First Class, Premium Class, Main Cabin Preferred, Main Cabin, and Saver, ensuring that fare types, upgrades, and benefits are aligned across both brands.

Why This Integration Matters to Travelers

The Alaska–Hawaiian combination goes beyond corporate consolidation — it is about delivering a more connected and user-friendly experience for travelers.

• Simplified booking: Customers will soon be able to compare and book flights across the combined network through a single, unified platform.

• Aligned fare structure: Standardized seat categories make it easier to understand pricing and benefits, no matter which airline you fly.

• Smoother journeys: The integration will gradually eliminate operational disconnects between the two carriers.

• Streamlined systems: Behind the scenes, shared APIs, flight codes, and booking tools will improve speed and reliability.

The Bigger Picture: A Step in the Merger Journey

Alaska Airlines completed its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines in 2024, in a deal valued at roughly $1.9 billion. The integration of systems like the PSS is a key part of realizing operational synergies and delivering on the merger’s promise of efficiency and improved service.

For both airlines, the process involves balancing technological unification with brand identity. Alaska has stated its intention to maintain Hawaiian’s distinct “aloha spirit” and hospitality while enabling shared infrastructure, loyalty benefits, and unified technology.

What You Should Do

• No action is needed if your flight is before April 22, 2026 — your booking remains valid.

• Expect small interface updates when booking future travel after April 2026 as both airlines transition to the multi-brand platform.

• Check communications from Alaska or Hawaiian for updates on branding, ticketing, or system changes.

• For travel professionals, note that API and system transitions will occur closer to the 2026 full integration date.

Looking Ahead

This technical milestone is more than a backend system update — it’s a glimpse into the future of a unified Alaska–Hawaiian travel experience. By consolidating systems, standardizing seat categories, and creating a unified booking environment, the combined airline is setting the stage for a smoother, more connected journey for every traveler.

As the April 2026 cutover approaches, guests can expect continued updates, improved digital experiences, and a commitment to preserving what each airline does best: Alaska’s reliability and Hawaiian’s spirit of aloha, now working together in one integrated network.

About Alaska Air Group

Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group, and McGee Air Services is a subsidiary of Alaska Airlines. We are a global airline with hubs in Seattle, Honolulu, Portland, Anchorage, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. We deliver remarkable care as we fly our guests to more than 140 destinations throughout North America, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific. We’ll serve Europe beginning in spring 2026. Guests can book travel at alaskaair.com and hawaiianairlines.com. Alaska is a member of the oneworld alliance, with Hawaiian scheduled to join oneworld in spring 2026. With oneworld and our additional global partners, guests can earn and redeem points for travel to over 1,000 worldwide destinations with Atmos Rewards. Learn more about what’s happening at Alaska and Hawaiian at news.alaskaair.com. Alaska Air Group is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as “ALK.”

Source: Alaska Air Group