Driver FixRecommendedSound, Wi-Fi or graphics acting up? Check drivers firstFind missing or outdated drivers fast.Check DriversOctober DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsSlow PC?RecommendedPC slow today? Run a repair scan before it gets worseResolve common Windows issues and optimize system performance.Scan Now×
Skip to content
The Finance Base
The Money Desk · Blog
Re:

Did the Hawaiian Merger Cost Alaska $518,000 a Day in 2025?

Alaska Air Group reported $193 million in direct merger costs for 2025. The $518,000-a-day figure instead annualizes Hawaiian Airlines’ $189 million segment loss—and does not prove the merger caused Alaska Airlines’ profit decline.
From TheFinanceBase Team3 min to read
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

The $518,000-a-day figure is an annualized estimate of Hawaiian Airlines’ 2025 segment loss—not a daily merger charge or a reported cash outflow. Alaska Air Group separately reported $193 million in costs directly attributable to merger activities. Its filings do not calculate how much profit Alaska Airlines would have earned without the Hawaiian acquisition, so neither figure alone proves that the merger caused Alaska’s profit decline.

What the $518,000-a-day figure measures

Alaska Air Group’s 2025 Form 10-K reports that Hawaiian Airlines had a $189 million pretax segment loss for the year, excluding special items and other adjustments. Divide $189 million by 365 days and the result is about $517,808 per day, which rounds to $518,000. That is an annualized way to express a full-year accounting result, not a daily expense the company reported or a measure of cash leaving the business each day. Alaska Air Group’s 2025 Form 10-K reports the annual figure.

The loss belongs to Hawaiian’s airline segment. It is not Alaska Airlines’ loss, and it is not the parent company’s merger-integration bill. Hawaiian’s comparable segment loss was $359 million on a pro forma basis for 2024, so the 2025 loss narrowed by $170 million. The company attributed the improvement to $370 million in increased revenue, including traffic and yield effects, network optimization, demand in Hawai‘i, and recovery after the 2023 Maui wildfires; higher non-fuel costs partly offset those gains.

How much Alaska Air Group reported in direct merger costs

Separately, Alaska Air Group reported $193 million in costs directly attributable to merger activities in 2025. The company classified these within operating special items and describes integration costs as employee-related, technology, and other merger costs. This is a different measure from Hawaiian’s segment loss: one concerns merger-related integration activity across the group, while the other reflects Hawaiian segment performance excluding special items and other adjustments. They should not be added together as if they were one bill, or treated as two descriptions of the same expense. The filing does not establish that $193 million is the acquisition’s total financial impact.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
#1 Best Overall
SEBUNAS 1:72 F-14 Tomcat 3D Quick Build Model Kit Fighter Jet Aircraft
  • Experience the legendary F-14 Tomcat through a highly detailed model designed for aviation collectors and hobby enthusiasts. The finished model becomes a striking desktop or showcase centerpiece.
  • This 3D puzzle is designed for beginner-level assembly enthusiasts, offering an immersive hands-on building experience that helps cultivate patience, concentration, and mechanical problem-solving skills.
  • This product is manufactured using high-quality, environmentally friendly plastic and employs an ultra-fine etching process to ensure durability, structural precision, and realistic aircraft details.
  • Encourages understanding of aircraft engineering concepts while improving hand-eye coordination and spatial thinking through engaging mechanical assembly.
  • Ideal gift for childs, engineers, collectors, model builders, and puzzle lovers for birthdays, Children’s Day, Christmas, or special hobby occasions.

Alaska Airlines stayed profitable, but its segment profit fell

On the company’s comparable measure of pretax segment profit excluding special items and other adjustments, Alaska Airlines reported $526 million in 2025, down from $744 million in 2024—a $218 million decrease. It remained profitable on that basis. The company said the decline was primarily driven by higher non-fuel operating expenses, with several offsets:

  • Non-fuel operating expenses increased by $407 million, largely because of higher wages and variable costs.
  • A $136 million decrease in variable incentive pay partly offset the increased non-fuel expenses.
  • $39 million in increased revenue and $185 million in lower fuel costs also partly offset the profit decline.

These figures describe the change in Alaska Airlines’ segment result, not an estimate of the amount caused by Hawaiian or the merger. The filing does not provide a hypothetical 2025 profit for Alaska Airlines had the acquisition not taken place.

Rank #2
Revell 85-5810 SR-71 Blackbird 1:72 Scale 66-Piece Skill Level 4 Model Airplane Building Kit
  • Revell Model Kit #85-5810, Skill Level 4, Contains 66-Parts, Recommended for ages 12 and up
  • Accurate surface details
  • Includes GTD-21 surveillance drone with cart
  • Decals with authentic U.S. Air Force markings
  • Molded in black and clear. Paint and glue required(not included).

How the segment results differ from Alaska Air Group’s net income

The airline segment figures are not the same as consolidated earnings. For 2025, Alaska Air Group reported $100 million in GAAP net income and $293 million in net income excluding special items and other adjustments. Its January 2026 results release also reported diluted earnings per share of $0.83 GAAP and $2.44 adjusted. These are group-wide measures, distinct from Alaska Airlines’ and Hawaiian’s pretax segment results and from the $193 million in direct merger costs. The company’s full-year results release presents the consolidated results.

What the merger timeline says—and what it does not

Alaska Air Group completed its acquisition of Hawaiian Holdings on September 18, 2024. During 2025, the company consolidated most back-office functions, co-located stations, and began integrating operational systems. Atmos Rewards launched in August 2025, combining Alaska Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles. In October 2025, the airlines received a single FAA operating certificate, while Hawaiian continued as a distinct guest-facing brand. The company said integration work and related costs would continue into 2026; that is management’s expectation, not a guarantee.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #3
Sale
LEGO Technic Bush Plane Toy - Buildable Airplane Toy for Kids, Boys and Girls, Ages 8+ - Model Airplane Gift with Spinning Propeller, 4-Cylinder Piston Engine, and More - 42198
  • MODEL AIRPLANE TOY – Build and explore a fun LEGO Technic Bush Plane toy with a spinning propeller, adjustable ailerons and 4-cylinder piston engine
  • IMAGINATIVE PRETEND PLAY – Kids can play creatively as they swoop their LEGO plane and imagine endless conservation missions with their bush aircraft
  • FUN FEATURES – This LEGO airplane toy comes with a cool zebra print design to reflect the role that bush planes play in wildlife conservation
  • TOY AIRPLANE GIFT IDEA – This makes a great holiday or birthday gift idea for boys and girls ages 8 and up, while delivering big play value as young pilots build and explore their bush plane model
  • YOUNG ENGINNERS IN THE MAKING – The LEGO Technic buildable toy vehicle sets feature realistic movement and mechanisms to introduce young LEGO builders to the universe of engineering

In its January 2026 release, Alaska Air Group said synergies were on track or ahead of plan relative to initial expectations. That is management’s assessment, not independent confirmation. CEO Ben Minicucci described the outlook this way: “We feel momentum accelerating in 2026 as the Alaska-Hawaiian Airlines combination gains full strength.” It is a forward-looking statement, not a reported measure of 2025 results.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

So, did the merger drain Alaska’s 2025 profits?

The filings support a precise but narrower answer: Alaska Air Group recorded $193 million in direct merger-related costs; Hawaiian reported a $189 million adjusted-basis pretax segment loss; and Alaska Airlines’ comparable segment profit declined by $218 million while remaining positive. Those amounts refer to different entities and measures. Because the company does not quantify Alaska’s merger-free counterfactual, they cannot establish exactly how much of Alaska’s profit decline the acquisition caused. The headline’s $518,000 per day is a rounded annualization of Hawaiian’s loss—not a daily merger expense.

Best Value
Revell 85-5512 B25J Mitchell 1:48 Scale Model Airplane Building Kit
  • Revell Plastic Model Airplane Kit #85-5512 is skill level 4 and contains 147 parts. Recommended for ages 12 and up.
  • 1:48 scale model, Length 14-1/4", Wingspan 16.75"
  • Crew figures and weighted tires. Machine guns mounted in glass nose.
  • Decals included to build one of two variants from the 345th Bomb Group, the Air Apaches.
  • Molded in light gray and clear. Paint and glue not included.
Rank #4
SEBUNAS 1:72 Scale A-10 Thunderbolt II Warthog Highly Detailed Plastic Assembly Model Kit Accurate Reproduction with Paint Scheme Collector's Choice Gift for Adults and Kids(43PCS)
  • QUICK SNAP-FIT ASSEMBLY — No glue, no mess: every precision-engineered piece clicks firmly into place so builders of all skill levels may complete their A-10 Thunderbolt II Warthog in one satisfying session without extra tools or adhesives.
  • AUTHENTIC WARBIRD DETAIL — Faithfully recreates the iconic twin-engine, straight-wing attack jet with raised panel lines, movable control surfaces, and characteristic GAU-8 cannon nose for a display-ready replica straight out of the box.
  • STEM-FRIENDLY BUILDING EXPERIENCE — The numbered part system and illustrated step-by-step guide introduce basic aerospace engineering concepts, supporting spatial reasoning and fine-motor development for builders ages 8 and up.
  • DURABLE ABS CONSTRUCTION — High-impact ABS plastic parts resist warping and breakage, ensuring the finished model withstands shelf display, light handling, and proud show-and-tell moments for years to come.
  • GREAT VALUE GIFT UNDER $25 — Thoughtfully packaged and priced at $21.99, this building set makes an ideal birthday, holiday, or any-occasion gift for aviation fans, military history enthusiasts, and hobbyist model builders alike.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

More post from the Money Desk

  1. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 267 minMortgage Escrow FAQs: Taxes, Insurance, Shortages, and Refunds
  2. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 265 minHow Mortgage Escrow Accounts Work and What Homeowners Pay For
  3. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 265 minHow to Read a Stock Chart, Volume and Market-Cap Data
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You DownFree scan - exact matches
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadFree repair scan

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.