Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden has commented that the Virgin American brand may be kept and run alongside Alaska as two different products.
Alaska bought Virgin America in April for $2.6 billion.
Speaking at the Wings Club in New York, Tilden said: “We are looking at that because we do believe in the power of the Virgin America brand and we don't want to lose all that loyalty and revenue that exists today.”
Tilden noted that European airline groups have retained names and cultures, such as the Lufthansa Group, Air France and KLM, and also International Airlines Group.
Tilden told the Associated Press that he is "taking a good look at running two brands for some period of time, perhaps forever." He also said the airline is looking to have regulatory approval for the merger by late summer or early fall.