ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - One St. Louis business analyst believes the merger between Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines could be a huge benefit to St. Louis flyers.
SLU/Chaifetz School of Business Professor Jerome Katz joined KMOX's Total Information A.M. to discuss the merger between the two airlines that just recently cleared U.S. Department of Justice(DOJ) review and says he thinks the merger could open up travel opportunities for St. Louis flyers.
"For us in St. Louis, we do get serviced from Alaska Airlines and that gets us to the West Coast and even with one hop to Hawaii," said Jerome Katz. "What's cool about Hawaiian Airlines is that they cover a lot of the western U.S. and of course all of Hawaii, but they also have all sorts of connections to Asia and the Pacific Islands."
"If these two airlines merge, that means we can get on a flight from St. Louis and with one hop, we can end up in the middle of Asia, or Tahiti. It's a great opportunity for us."
Katz says a big question with the merger is if it will lead to less competition for flights and prices in some cities.
"I suspect the Department of Transportation is going to require the airlines to make some kind of adjustment to keep that competitiveness alight even if the airlines merged," said Katz.
Katz believes that there is hope the merger will go through because of what Alaska Airlines provides to Hawaiian Airlines.
"Hawaiian Airlines needs an infusion of cash and travelers that Alaska provides," said Katz. "It's looking hopeful and it means a lot more options for us who fly on Alaska Airlines from St. Louis."