Alaska Airlines gets US approval to buy Virgin America
WASHINGTON — Alaska Airlines has won government approval to buy rival Virgin America after agreeing to reduce its flight-selling partnership with American Airlines.
Parent company Alaska Air Group Inc. said Tuesday that it expects to close the $2.6 billion deal soon and greatly increase its presence in the huge California market.
The Justice Department filed a lawsuit and settlement agreement in federal district court in Washington.
Seattle-based Alaska is the nation’s sixth-biggest airline, and California-based Virgin is eighth.