Alaska-Hawaiian Airline Deal Challengers Get New Shot at Lawsuit

Consumer plaintiffs that sought to halt Alaska Air Group Inc.'s acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines can refile their case, after the Ninth Circuit ruled Tuesday that a lower court was wrong in dismissing the complaint for good.

The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in an unpublished memorandum opinion instructed the trial court to allow the plaintiffs to amend their complaint.

“Here, amendment would not be futile because Plaintiffs could cure their pleadings by alleging additional facts in support of standing, such as specific travel plans and the effects of the merger on those plan,” the appellate court said. ...