After Peter Ingram stepped down as Hawaiian Airlines CEO and president, former Alaska Airlines ’ regional president of Hawaii/Pacific Joe Sprague was appointed to CEO on Sept 18. This comes after Alaska Airlines closed the deal on its purchase of Hawaiian, for $1.9 billion, inclusive of Hawaiian's debt of $900 million.

The airline’s chief executive, Ben Minicucci, said in an interview that closing its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines would allow it to expand, including on international routes.

Joe Sprague, formerly Alaska Airlines’ current regional president of Hawaii/Pacific, now takes over as Hawaiian Airlines CEO to lead the interim leadership team overseeing Hawaiian’s operations while Alaska pursues a single operating certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration.