Alaska Air Group (ALK) said Tuesday it expects its merger deal with Hawaiian Holdings (HA) to close by Sept. 18 after the US Department of Transportation allowed the transaction to move forward.

The DOT granted an interim exemption related to the merger, allowing the two airlines to operate international routes as a merged entity, Alaska Air said.

The DOT separately said it secured protections for travelers in clearing the transaction, including preserving the value of rewards and maintaining critical flight services.

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