Hawaiian Airlines is currently in the process of preparing a final commemorative flight under its own operating certificate before the airline’s complete integration with Alaska Airlines under a Single operating Certificate. This is expected to be issued by late October. Ahead of the airline receiving a single operating certificate, flight renumbering has already begun on October 26 to help align schedules and eliminate overlap frictions, which could occur, a visible step the airline is taking towards unifying its operations.
Following the issuance of this single operating certificate, Hawaiian Airlines flying will gradually shift into Alaska’s systems, with the historic Hawaiian Airlines code slated to disappear by around April 2026 as booking and branding begin to consolidate. Department of Transportation approvals have already paved the way for the transfer of the airline’s certificate to route authorities, ultimately clearing regulatory hurdles for this transition. In short, a final Hawaiian Airlines-operated flight will mark the end of an era and be followed by the phased integration of schedules, codes, and customer touchpoints into Alaska’s dynamic platform.
A Special Occasion And Cause For Celebration
According to operational notes in Airways Magazine, the final flight to operate under the original Hawaiian Airlines certificate will be HA 866, followed by the first post-integration service, which will operate as AS 2604 once the single operating certificate (SOC) comes into effect in full form. There is a rather interesting caveat that the timing of this creates. If Hawaiian Airlines Flight HA 866 is more than 90 minutes late, the SOC will officially come into effect, triggering the flight to be renamed under the 
Alaska Airlines callsign.
The carrier’s one-day rule when it comes to these kinds of changes is primarily designed to keep schedules orderly during a cutover period. This aligns with the Alaska Air Group’s plan to begin flight renumbering on October 26, as the carrier begins to move towards having all aircraft operating with Alaska codes by 2026. There will likely be a relatively toned-down ceremony, featuring some onboard commemorative touches and potential giveaways for members of the media and lucky passengers on this flight.
A Deeper Look At What This Means For Alaska Airlines And Hawaiian Airlines
The complete integration of Hawaiian Airlines into the Alaska Air Group fleet is an incredibly complex task, and one that will require an immense amount of effort from both parties. This move was carefully calibrated by Alaska Airlines, which believed that the acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines would allow it to significantly expand its position within the industry.
The airline also wanted to use Hawaiian’s long-haul aircraft (and upcoming order for Boeing 787 models) to support its expansion into global markets. The carrier has already launched transpacific flights from Seattle with plans to add flights to Europe from its Seattle base. This integration is the result of the largest airline merger of the past decade, one that was executed by both carriers with multiple major investment banks serving as financial advisors.
This deal has captured a lot of investor attention, many of whom are excited about Alaska’s prospects coming out of the lengthy integration process. There are certainly some hurdles that the two airlines still have to clear, but they are well on their way to bringing the two airlines under one roof.
What’s Next For Alaska Airlines And Hawaiian Airlines?
With these two airlines preparing to morph into two distinct brands within just one airline ecosystem, there are some next moves we can expect from Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. For starters, we can expect these carriers to begin the process of rolling out Atmos Rewards, the carriers’ joint loyalty program.
Furthermore, the two carriers will also continue to integrate their leadership teams. Product offerings and ticketing systems will continue to be streamlined, and it will soon become easier than ever for passengers to book flights with either of the carriers.
Lastly, the proper regulatory integration of the two carriers under one operating certificate will take place. This complete integration is what will allow Alaska Airlines to operate services under its own name from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to destinations all across the globe.
