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