Alaska Air Official site

It follows a month-long effort to close the $2.6 billion transaction ($4 billion, which includes debts and airplane operational leases). Alaska Air Group was ranked 5th on the US carrier ranking after 6th place by the airline combination, passing JetBlue, which had also been courting Virgin America.

Both Alaska and Virgin America are expected to achieve an average turnover of more than 7 billion US dollars and fly about 280 planes. The All Boeing Alaska Airlines and All Airbus Virgin America fleets will initially keep their own brand names. In order to highlight the takeover, Alaska had one of its 737-900ER jet liners paint in a mixture of Virgin America's and Alaska Airlines' paintwork (including the Eskimo stern front).

Co-brand 737 took part in a festive air show this early today from Alaska Airlines' home base in Seattle that landed in San Francisco, Virgin America's stamping ground. From Virgin America's hipper, silicon-centric customers, Alaska is expecting her to bring her West Coast services. This agreement also gives Alaska better airport accessibility in the New York City area and Washington, D.C. In connection with the conclusion of the agreement, Alaska said it would be offering new services from its San Francisco hubs to Minneapolis, Orlando, Fla. and Orange County, Calif.

The Alaska Air Group said it would give away 1,200 round-trip airline seats in honour of the almost 1,200 day trips of the airline combinations. It will also be possible to buy Virgin America complimentary ticket on the Alaska Air website as well as on the Virgin America website. Virginal America flyers will be welcome to join new Alaska airlines to Mileage Plan account next week.

Alaska' s Chairman and CEO, Ben Minicucci, today also accepted the position of Virgin America CEO. Both Alaska Airlines and Virgin America said they will be spending the next year getting certified by the Federal Aviation Administration to formally fly as a stand-alone airline. Alaska Air's Horizon Air regionally based affiliate will remain in operation under a FAA separation agreement.