Alaska Air Group has announced that Alaska Air Cargo and Hawaiian Air Cargo will formally integrate their cargo operations under a single digital platform from January 10, 2026, marking a major milestone in the post-merger alignment of the two carriers.
Under the new protocol, all shipments will move using Alaska Air Cargo air waybill numbers, identifiable by the 027 prefix, creating a unified operational and commercial framework across both networks. The integration will be powered by the IBS iCargo cargo management system, delivering a consolidated, end-to-end digital experience for customers.
The move establishes a single online portal through which customers can book, manage and track shipments across Alaska and Hawaiian cargo services. Alaska Air Cargo has been using the iCargo platform since March 2022 to manage sales, inventory and terminal operations. For Hawaiian Air Cargo customers, however, the transition represents a significant upgrade, providing access for the first time to the same advanced digital booking and visibility tools already in use across Alaska’s network.
As part of the transition, Hawaiian Air Cargo is migrating away from SmartKargo, the cloud-based SaaS cargo management solution it has relied on since 2015, and onto the unified IBS platform. Hawaiian was an early adopter of SmartKargo, becoming the first airline in the Americas to implement the system, and later renewing the platform under a five-year contract in 2019. The shift to iCargo reflects the operational consolidation following Alaska Air Group’s acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines.
“Our single cargo booking system is a significant improvement that standardises policies across our entire network,” said Ian Morgan, Vice President of Cargo at Alaska Airlines. “We are building the foundation for future growth while maintaining the personalised service our customers expect.”
GoldStreak rollout strengthens intra-Hawaii express services
Alongside the system integration, Alaska Air Group is expanding its GoldStreak Package Express service throughout the Hawaiian Islands. The next-flight-out product is designed for time-critical shipments, including medical supplies, pharmaceuticals and urgent documents.
“Our GoldStreak product will add significant value for customers in Hawaii, improving cutoff and recovery times and extending access across the network,” Morgan said.
Global expansion and widebody connectivity
The cargo integration comes as Alaska Air Group accelerates its move into global markets. From spring 2026, the airline will launch nonstop long-haul services from Seattle (SEA) to London Heathrow (LHR) and Rome (FCO), opening new opportunities for long-haul airfreight flows.
These routes will enable Asia–Europe cargo connectivity via Seattle, leveraging the group’s existing widebody services linking Seattle with Tokyo Narita (NRT) and Seoul Incheon (ICN). The expanded network positions Seattle as a strategic transpacific and transatlantic cargo hub within the group’s growing international footprint.
Merger-driven integration gains momentum
Following regulatory approval, Alaska Air Group completed its $1.9 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines in September 2024, after first announcing the deal in December 2023. While Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines will retain their distinct public-facing brands, the group is operating under a single FAA operating certificate, enabling deeper integration across operations, fleet and systems.
The combination brings together two carriers with a combined aviation heritage of nearly 200 years—Hawaiian Airlines with 96 years of history and Alaska Airlines with 93. With the single operating certificate now in place, the group is increasingly focused on serving regions that are highly dependent on air freight, particularly Alaska, Hawaii and the US West Coast.
By blending Hawaiian’s transpacific expertise with Alaska’s extensive West Coast and domestic network, the group aims to become a more competitive and resilient player in the global air cargo supply chain.
“We are building the foundation for future growth, and we’re already starting to see that in our global expansion out of Seattle,” Morgan added.
