Alaska Airlines has completed its $1.9 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines. The closing came a day after the deal received approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The Alaska and Hawaiian brands will remain distinct over the long run. And for now, not much else will change for flyers of either airline brand. Hawaiian and Alaska will operate as separate airlines, with separate passenger service systems, until they obtain a single operating certificate from the FAA. The carriers will also maintain separate websites, reservations systems and loyalty programs until later in the integration process.

Alaska Air Group will now fly nearly 1,500 daily flights to 141 destinations, operating a fleet of 350 aircraft while employing more than 33,000 people.

Smaller changes include Alaska lounge members can now use Hawaiian Airlines lounges while flying on Hawaiian; customers will soon be able to buy tickets on either airline via the websites of the other; and members of the two loyalty programs will be able to transfer miles between the two plans without charge.

Alaska eventually plans to eliminate Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles, replacing them with a unified new program.
Ben Minucci, Alaska’s CEO, said, “Together, this is a powerful combination that will unlock growth and benefits for everyone who depends on us.”