The US government’s move to secure consumer protections from Alaska Air Group Inc. and Hawaiian Holdings Inc. before blessing their merger marks a “new chapter” in how the US Transportation Department wields its powers,

The U.S. Transportation Department said on Tuesday it had agreed to allow Alaska Airlines to close on its $1.9 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, after the carriers agreed to maintain key Hawaiian routes and adopt consumer protections.

The DOT approved Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines to close their merger, although it still must clear the airlines to combine their operations.

Alaska Airlines said on Wednesday it had completed its $1.9 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines after reaching an agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation. The airlines on Tuesday agreed to maintain key Hawaiian routes and adopt consumer protections under an agreement that will last six years.

Key Takeaways Alaska Airlines' acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines received the approval of the Department of Transportation (DOT) Tuesday after the airlines agreed to a number of terms designed to protect travelers.

The merger between Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines cleared its last regulatory hurdle Tuesday, and when it finalizes will become the first major U.S. airline combination since 2016 when federal regulators allowed Alaska to merge with Virgin America.