Alaska Air Group details post-merger Virgin America leadership

Alaska Airlines president and COO Ben Minicucci will additionally take on the role of Virgin America CE when Alaska Air Group’s acquisition of Virgin America closes. Alaska Air Group, parent of Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, said it expects the US$4b acquisition of Virgin America to gain regulatory approval from the US Department of Justice and close “early in the Q4 of this year,” the company said. Virgin America SVP and CFO Peter Hunt will become president of Virgin America following the transaction’s close and be in charge of Virgin America’ day-to-day operations, Alaska Air Group said. He will report directly to Minicucci. Alaska Air Group said Minicucci and Hunt will run Virgin America until Alaska/Virgin America gain a single operating certificate from FAA, which the company expects will happen in early 2018. <br/>