DALLAS & SOUTHLAKE, Texas, May 03, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Southwest Airlines and Sabre Airline Solutions recently signed a seven-year agreement that promises the airline innovative and cost-effective technology. The new technology will continue to give Southwest Customers access to convenient and low-cost ways to plan, book and implement their travel plans.
“Sabre has the right technology and the right industry IQ to meet our needs,” said Tom Nealon, Southwest Airlines chief information officer. “Our Sabre partnership allows us to offer our Customers low fares that are easy to find.”
Southwest will use a customized passenger management solution for its reservations system and Customer interactions at the airport. The new agreement replaces the previous contract signed in 1998, creating a more strategic relationship with Sabre and setting Southwest’s infrastructure for their reservations system technology in place, as the airline plans for the future. The decision to focus more of its operations on Sabre’s technology allows Southwest to eliminate disparate systems, increase performance and reliability, and further leverage the technology strengths of Sabre.
“Southwest is recognized around the world as driving innovation — they created the model that drove costs out of the business, they score some of the highest marks in the industry for Customer satisfaction and loyalty, and they put the fun back into travel,” said Gianni Marostica, president of the Airline Passenger Solutions business for Sabre Airline Solutions. “We are extremely pleased to work with them as a strategic partner, powering their vision for Customer-oriented growth.”
Over the course of a decade, Southwest Airlines and Sabre Airline Solutions have developed new, industry-leading products and enhancements that enable Southwest to quickly respond to changing industry demands, and more importantly, its Customers’ needs. Sabre Airline Solutions has managed Southwest’s reservation system since 1986.
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV), the nation’s largest carrier in terms of domestic passengers enplaned (according to DOT data for the third quarter of 2004), currently serves 59 cities in 31 states. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 2,900 flights a day and has 31,000 Employees system wide. The carrier will begin service to Pittsburgh on May 4, 2005.
Sabre Airline Solutions
Sabre Airline Solutions, a Sabre Holdings company, is the world’s largest provider of software products; reservations, 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 500 contracts worldwide were signed in 2004 for Sabre Airline Solutions’ leading technology solutions. More than 100 airlines worldwide rely on Sabre Airline Solutions for passenger management solutions, with eight new carriers choosing the SabreSonic solutions, the first new generation reservations system offered in the market, in 2004 and six carrier renewals. In addition, more than 100 clients worldwide have turned to the Sabre Airline Solutions consulting group for strategic, commercial and operational consulting.
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 and SabreSonic are trademarks and/or service marks of an affiliate of Sabre Holdings Corporation. All other trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners. (C) 2005 Sabre Inc. All rights reserved.
SOURCE: Sabre Airline Solutions
Sabre Airline Solutions Kathryn Hayden, 682-605-2252 kathryn.hayden@sabre-holdings.com or Southwest Airlines Public Relations, 214-792-4847
