HONOLULU, April 25, 2026 – Hawaiian Airlines has officially entered the oneworld alliance and completed a significant migration to Alaska Airlines' Sabre reservations system, marking a major step in the integration of Alaska Air Group's acquisition of the carrier. These changes are now visible to passengers through updated flight codes, loyalty perks, and shared airport facilities.
Loyalty Benefits Expand Across oneworld
Hawaiian's Atmos Rewards program, a joint loyalty initiative with Alaska Airlines, now allows members to earn and redeem points across all 14 other oneworld carriers, including American Airlines, British Airways, and Japan Airlines. Conversely, oneworld members can now access their elite benefits on Hawaiian flights, broadening the alliance's reach in the Pacific region. This integration is a key part of the merger's value proposition, offering travelers a seamless experience across a vast network.
Behind-the-Scenes System Switch
The migration to Sabre, the same reservation and check-in system used by Alaska, was described by Alex Da Silva, a Hawaiian Airlines spokesperson, as the "biggest and most complex integration project" involved in the merger. This switch ties together online bookings, mobile apps, loyalty profiles, and airport kiosks, creating a unified platform for both airlines. The transition took effect on April 21, with all Hawaiian flights now operating under Alaska's "AS" code. Da Silva confirmed that volunteers were stationed at Honolulu's airport to assist passengers, and no material problems were reported after the changeover.
New Routes and Hub Expansion
With Hawaiian joining oneworld, Honolulu becomes a global hub for the alliance, unlocking new routes to destinations such as Hilo, Rarotonga, Pago Pago, and Papeete. Diana Birkett Rakow, CEO of Hawaiian, emphasized that the partnership opens up routes "from Honolulu to Hong Kong" for both Hawai‘i residents and Atmos members. Ole Orvér, CEO of oneworld, noted that Hawaiian's membership expands the alliance's footprint across the Pacific and within the United States, making oneworld the only alliance with three U.S. members: Alaska, American, and now Hawaiian.
Customer-Facing Changes
Travelers can now manage all their trips through a unified Alaska Hawaiian app, with a single record locator for combined itineraries. Shared airport lobbies are operational at several mainland locations, including Los Angeles, Seattle, New York-JFK, San Francisco, and San Jose. Hawaiian has shifted to web and mobile check-in only, with self-serve bag-tag kiosks stationed in the lobbies. Despite these changes, Alaska has stated that Hawaiian's logo, airport signs, and onboard experience will remain distinct.
Regulatory and Market Context
Alaska Air Group completed its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines in September 2024, with plans to maintain both brands separately while unifying operations under a single certificate and passenger system. The merger was approved by U.S. regulators with conditions, including protections for rewards value, essential Hawaii routes, rural flights, access at Honolulu's airport, family seating, and compensation for controllable disruptions. These requirements remain in effect as the integration progresses.
In a separate development, Reuters reported this week that American Airlines and Alaska are exploring ways to expand their partnership, with early discussions focused on international joint ventures, potentially involving transpacific routes and Japan Airlines. However, any such partnership would require approval from the U.S. Transportation Department and could face antitrust scrutiny, especially after a federal judge blocked American's Northeast Alliance with JetBlue in 2023. Alaska Air Group's shares continue to trade under the ticker ALK on the New York Stock Exchange.
