On this episode of AvTalk, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines secure Department of Transportation approval of their merger. As the Boeing Machinists’ strike enters week two, the company is implementing a long list of measures to hoard cash. In other strike news, Air Canada and its pilots union have reached a tentative agreement, but it still needs to be ratified. Ian heads to Dorkfest and SpotLAX in Los Angeles and chats with Kevin and Rudy from YouTube channel Airline Videos Live about the growth and future plans. And a US company is suing Australian airline REX for allegedly stripping aircraft for parts that didn’t belong to them. Helpful links for this week’s episode * US Department of Transportation announcement on Alaska + Hawaii merger approval conditions * Airline Videos Live captures a Lufthansa 747-8 hard landing and go around at LAX * Brett Snyder’s Cranky Dorkfest wrap-up Thank you for listening! Thank you so much for listening to AvTalk! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving a review on iTunes. Reviews on iTunes not only help us make a better show, they help more people find the podcast! Want to send us additional feedback, just email us. And tell that friend who asked you for a podcast recommendation that AvTalk is the one they want to listen to next. Click here for a transcript of this week’s episode.