Alaska Air CEO Is Ready to Fight for His $1.9 Billion Prize (1)

Alaska Air Group Inc. Chief Executive Officer Ben Minicucci was all smiles as he made the media rounds Monday with his new partner, the CEO of Hawaiian Holdings Inc. — the two in coordinated aloha shirts.

Alaska said Sunday it would buy Hawaiian for $1.9 billion. The deal, code named project Triggerfish for Hawaii’s state fish, was the culmination of six months of negotiations between the two men as Minicucci looks to grow Alaska Air. While the market hasn’t warmed to an acquisition that faces tough antitrust scrutiny — Alaska’s stock dropped 14% in Monday trading — Minicucci isn’t afraid ...