SOUTHLAKE, Texas & ORLANDO, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Nov. 8, 2004–AirTran Airways (NYSE:AAI) and Sabre Airline Solutions, a Sabre Holdings company, (NYSE:TSG), announced an agreement for resource management technology that will enable the carrier to implement faster staffing solutions for dynamic airport operations.
The technology will be provided through two components of the Sabre Streamline suite of resource management products.
The two technology components, Sabre Streamline StaffPlan and Sabre Streamline StaffAdmin, will be implemented across all of AirTran Airways’ operations.
AirTran Airways will leverage the Streamline suite for planning, rostering and administrating its employee resources. By utilizing the Streamline suite, it will be able to reduce operational costs, improve on-time performance and better utilize employee resources.
“The typical approach airlines take when implementing resource management systems is to cut costs,” said Jack Smith, senior vice president of Customer Service for AirTran Airways. “At AirTran Airways, we are just as concerned about customer service and on-time performance as we are with cost containment, especially as we grow the airline. We already maintain a cost-leadership position and the Streamline suite will enable us to continue to keep that position while we expand and enter more competitive markets.”
“A growing airline cannot simply stand still when it comes to technology,” Smith added. “Sabre Airline Solutions has the breadth and depth of smart solutions to meet our changing operational needs and the personnel to ensure success. When we searched the marketplace, we looked not only for providers with the right technology but for those that were able to be a partner today and in the future.”
Steve Clampett, president of Airline Products and Services for Sabre Airline Solutions, said AirTran Airways’ selection of the Streamline suite further validates its benefits for all types of carriers.
“Carriers need to optimize their resources to ensure they keep a tight reign on costs while improving operational performance and customer service,” he said. “With fuel prices remaining high, airlines are looking for ways to minimize their other costs and one way to do this is to improve utilization of valuable airport resources. The Streamline suite, by providing the optimum staffing plans, ensures that the right people are in the right place at the right time.”
The addition of the Streamline suite builds on the existing relationship between Sabre Airline Solutions and AirTran Airways across the airline’s operations. AirTran Airways currently uses the Sabre Flight Control Suite for its flight operations and will now use the Streamline suite for its airport operations.
AirTran Airways joins other low cost carriers utilizing the Streamline Suite, including ATA, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue and WestJet.
About AirTran Airways
AirTran Airways is one of America’s largest low-fare airlines — with 6,000 friendly, professional crew members and operating over 500 flights a day to more than 40 destinations. The airline’s hub is at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest airport by passenger volume, where it is the second largest carrier. AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings (NYSE:AAI), is the world’s largest operator of the Boeing 717 and has America’s youngest all-Boeing fleet. The airline recently added the Boeing 737-700 aircraft, one of the most fuel efficient and environmentally friendly aircraft flying today, to its fleet and looks to begin outfitting its planes with XM Satellite Radio this fall. For reservations or more information, visit airtran.com (America Online Keyword: AirTran).
About Sabre Airline Solutions
Sabre Airline Solutions, a Sabre Holdings company, is the world’s largest provider of software products, reservations and departure control systems and other passenger management systems, and consulting services that help airlines simplify operations and lower costs. Sabre Airline Solutions’ proven leadership is demonstrated by the growing number of airlines that leverage the technology and services: More than 200 airlines worldwide use Sabre Airline Solutions’ broad portfolio of smart solutions for decision-support tools to increase revenues and improve operations. More than 100 airlines worldwide rely on Sabre Airline Solutions for passenger management solutions, with 15 new carriers added and nine carrier renewals for SabreSonic Res advanced reservations and departure control systems in 2003. In addition, more than 100 clients worldwide have turned to Sabre Airline Solutions consulting group for strategic, commercial and operational consulting. More than 500 contracts worldwide were signed in 2003 within Sabre Airline Solutions and nearly 400 have been signed in the first half of 2004.
Sabre Holdings Corp. (NYSE:TSG) is a world leader in travel commerce, retailing travel products and providing distribution and technology solutions for the travel industry. More information about Sabre Holdings is available at http://www.sabre-holdings.com/.
Sabre Airline Solutions, the Sabre Airline Solutions logo, the Sabre Streamline Suite, the Sabre Streamline StaffPlan system and the Sabre Streamline StaffAdmin system are trademarks and/or service marks of an affiliate of Sabre Holdings Corp. All other trademarks, service marks and trade names are the property of their respective owners. (C) 2004 Sabre Inc. All rights reserved.
CONTACT: Sabre Airline Solutions, Southlake
Kathryn Hayden, 682-605-2252
kathryn.hayden@sabre-holdings.com
or
AirTran Airways
Tad Hutcheson, 678-254-7442
tad.hutcheson@airtran.com
or
Judy Graham-Weaver, 678-254-7448
judy.graham-weaver@airtran.com
SOURCE: Sabre Airline Solutions
