Virgin America Stockholders approve merger deal with Alaska Air

Stockholders in Virgin America have approved the acquisition of their airline by Alaska Airlines. The chairman of Virgin America announced the voting results at a shareholders meeting Tuesday. This is the next-to-last major hurdle for the airline takeover. The remaining step is US Justice Department approval. Antitrust regulators are already scrutinising the proposed combination of the nation's sixth and 11th largest airlines as ranked by passengers flown. The feds could require the combined carriers to shed assets to preserve competition. Alaska Airlines management insists the result of its acquisition of Virgin America would be "pro-consumer." Alaska Airlines and Virgin America's leaders both say they expect the deal to close by the end of this year. <br/>