Antitrust enforcers looking into Alaska Air Group Inc.’s plan to buy Hawaiian Holdings Inc. will take more time to decide on the proposed $1.9b deal. The Justice Department and state attorneys general now have until Aug. 15 to determine whether to try to block the tie-up or allow it to move forward, according to a company regulatory filing Tuesday. The airlines had originally sought a decision by Aug. 5, but agreed to an extension. The combination of Alaska and Hawaiian would capture more than 50% of Hawaii’s airline market, which has annual revenue of $8b, the carriers have said. But travelers in Hawaii would be able to reach more destinations through the combined networks, while creating a stronger competitor to the four largest domestic airlines that dominate the US market. The agency opened an in-depth review of the transaction in February. The Biden administration has taken a tough stance on airline mergers, derailing a planned combination of JetBlue Airways Corp. and Spirit Airlines Inc. and breaking up a regional partnership between JetBlue and American Airlines Group Inc.<br/>
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Royal Jordanian Airlines is concerned that regional conflict will continue to suppress tourism to its local area and negatively affect the carrier’s third-quarter and second-half figures. It has turned in a first-half loss of JD27m ($38m), deeper than the JD17m recorded at the same point last year. Royal Jordanian says revenues for the first six months of 2024 fell by 3% to JD338m. CE Samer Majali says the results, despite the difficult conditions, remain in line with budget estimates. The Israel-Gaza conflict has negatively affected the carrier’s performance, with a near-8% fall in tourist numbers. Majali says it has caused a significant loss of bookings and the carrier states that this potentially affects its third-quarter results and those for the second half. The airline has strived to reduce costs and open new routes to compensate for traffic loss from its usual markets. “Unfortunately the airline was unable to mitigate the losses, resulting in numbers that did not meet the desired outcome,” it states.<br/>