DOJ antitrust ‘expect to appear’ in Hawaii court; airline merger review end nears

HONOLULU (KHON2) — One of the federal antitrust attorneys for the Department of Justice assigned to the case that ended up blocking the Jet Blue-Spirit merger earlier this year has told the U.S. District Court here that he expects to be heading to Hawaii.

Brian Hanna who is a trial attorney with the U.S. DOJ’s Antitrust Division filed an application today in federal district court in Honolulu.

The filing said: “I expect to appear on behalf of the United States and to tend to the interests of the United States before this Court.”

A federal judge approved him to appear and practice here. KHON2 reached out for comment.

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Whether federal antitrust regulators allow or block Alaska Airlines’ buyout of Hawaiian Airlines is yet to be determined.

On Thursday, August 15, an extended review period by the Department of Justice comes to an end. Review periods are meant to give regulators time to investigate potential impacts of mergers.

KHON2 reached out to the airlines for any updates as of today and a spokesperson for Hawaiian Airlines said they cannot comment on the ongoing DOJ review.