Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines Receive Single Operating Certificate from FAA

A Major Milestone: Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines Secure Single Operating Certificate

In the complex world of airline mergers, few steps are as critical or as challenging as achieving a Single Operating Certificate (SOC). Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines have officially reached this significant integration milestone, receiving the go-ahead from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This certification is far more than a bureaucratic checkbox; it represents the successful harmonization of the two carriers’ operational backbones. It signifies that, from a regulatory and safety standpoint, the airlines now function as one cohesive unit under the watchful eye of the FAA.

The journey to an SOC is a meticulous, often year-long process that involves aligning every facet of flight operations. For Alaska and Hawaiian, this meant integrating everything from pilot training protocols and maintenance procedures to flight dispatch manuals and safety policies. Achieving this is a testament to a massive collaborative effort, ensuring that the highest standards of safety and efficiency are consistent across the entire combined entity. While passengers won’t see immediate, sweeping changes overnight, this behind-the-scenes alignment is the foundational work required for a truly seamless travel experience in the future.

This milestone solidifies the operational merger, allowing the combined airline to move forward with deeper integration plans. It provides the regulatory framework needed to streamline resources, optimize flight networks, and ultimately, build a more robust and competitive airline. For employees, it marks a crucial step toward operating as a single team, and for the industry, it’s a clear signal that the integration of these two distinct brands is progressing on a solid and safety-focused trajectory.

The Intricacies of a Single Certificate

So, what exactly is a Single Operating Certificate? In essence, it’s the FAA’s official authorization for an air carrier to conduct commercial flights. When two airlines merge, they can’t simply continue operating on their separate certificates. The FAA requires them to combine into a single, unified entity with one set of rules. This process ensures there is no ambiguity in safety standards, maintenance checks, or crew training. The resulting single certificate confirms that the merged airline meets all federal safety and operational regulations as one company.

The path to this certification is a monumental task. It involves thousands of hours of work from multiple departments across both airlines. Teams must painstakingly review, compare, and harmonize countless procedures and manuals. This includes standardizing everything from how pilots are trained on different aircraft to how maintenance crews conduct inspections and how dispatchers plan flights. Every policy must be aligned to create a single, comprehensive set of operating standards that satisfies the FAA’s stringent requirements. The goal is to eliminate operational redundancies and potential conflicts, creating a unified system where safety is the paramount, shared focus.

The FAA’s role in this process is that of a diligent overseer. The agency guides and supports the airlines while carefully scrutinizing every detail of the proposed integration. Their final approval of the SOC is a declaration that the combined airline has successfully demonstrated its ability to operate safely and consistently under one unified framework. It’s a regulatory seal of approval that validates the immense effort undertaken to merge two complex operational systems into one.

“Congratulations to everyone at Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines for getting us to a single operating certificate. This was a year-long, multi-phase effort involving multiple departments and thousands of hours of work.” , Ben Minicucci, CEO of Alaska Air Group

What This Means for the Future

While the SOC is a massive step forward operationally, passengers will still see two distinct brands for the time being. An Alaska Airlines flight will still feel like an Alaska flight, and a Hawaiian Airlines flight will continue to offer its signature Aloha spirit. However, some subtle changes are already taking place. Behind the scenes, all flights now operate under a single Alaska Airlines callsign (“AS”) for communication with air traffic control. For passengers, some Hawaiian Airlines flight numbers may be adjusted to avoid duplication with existing Alaska routes.

The next major phase of integration will be more customer-facing. The airlines are working towards a single passenger service system (PSS), which handles bookings, ticketing, and reservations. This is slated for the spring of 2026, at which point all flights will be booked under the ‘AS’ code. This will create a more seamless booking and travel management experience across the entire network. Additionally, Hawaiian Airlines is expected to join the oneworld alliance, further expanding the global reach and loyalty benefits for all customers.

This milestone also brings about leadership changes designed to support the dual-brand strategy. Key leadership positions have been established in Honolulu to specifically oversee the Hawaiian Airlines brand and its operations within the combined structure. This move underscores the commitment to preserving the unique identity and heritage of Hawaiian Airlines while leveraging the scale and network of the larger Alaska Air Group. The focus now shifts from regulatory and operational alignment to the intricate work of merging passenger systems, loyalty programs, and employee groups into a single, cohesive organization.

Conclusion: A Foundation for a Combined Future

The achievement of a Single Operating Certificate by Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines is a critical, foundational milestone in their merger. It represents the successful, and incredibly complex, task of unifying two distinct operational philosophies under a single, FAA-approved safety and procedural framework. This accomplishment, born from a year of intensive collaboration, ensures that the combined entity can now move forward with the confidence that its core operations are sound, safe, and standardized.

Looking ahead, this operational unity paves the way for the more visible aspects of the merger. The integration of passenger service systems, the alignment of loyalty programs, and the eventual joining of Hawaiian Airlines into the oneworld alliance will all build upon this regulatory foundation. While the two airlines will maintain their distinct brands, their combined strength will offer travelers a more expansive network and a streamlined experience, marking a new chapter for both carriers as they navigate the future together.

FAQ

Question: What is a Single Operating Certificate (SOC)?
Answer: An SOC is an approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that allows two merging airlines to operate as one entity from a regulatory and safety standpoint. It requires the successful integration of training, procedures, policies, and manuals.

Question: Will I still be able to book flights on Hawaiian Airlines?
Answer: Yes. Although the airlines are operating under one certificate, they will maintain their two distinct brands. You can continue to book Hawaiian Airlines flights, which will retain their unique brand experience.

Question: What changes will passengers see immediately?
Answer: The most immediate change is minimal. Some Hawaiian Airlines flight numbers may be updated to prevent duplication with Alaska Airlines flights. The larger, more visible changes, like a combined booking system, are planned for 2026.

Question: Will Hawaiian Airlines flights now use an Alaska Airlines callsign?
Answer: Yes, for behind-the-scenes operational purposes, such as communication between pilots and air traffic control, all flights will now use the Alaska Airlines callsign (“AS”). However, flight numbers on boarding passes and airport screens will still use the ‘HA’ designator for Hawaiian-operated flights until the passenger service systems are merged.

Sources: Alaska Airlines News