December 16, 2002 - reprinted with permission from The Dallas Morning News
Security deal goes to Sabre
Local firm's software chosen for scheduling airport screeners
By ALAN GOLDSTEIN / The Dallas Morning News
Unisys Corp. has selected software from Sabre Holdings Corp. to help the Transportation Security Administration set schedules for its employees who screen passengers and baggage at U.S. airports.
On Monday, Sabre is expected to announce details of the deal, which is valued at about $17 million in its first year. Sabre briefly mentioned the contract on a conference call with analysts Friday, during which the company dramatically trimmed its fourth-quarter forecast because of the slowdown in air travel.
Unisys is responsible for developing and maintaining the information technology systems for the TSA, a newly formed federal agency. Unisys said it selected Sabre because it's under a tight deadline to improve the flow of traffic through airports, and the Southlake-based technology services company has extensive experience working with the airline industry.
"We look at the contract as validation of our proven solution and of our ability to deliver it quickly," said Tom Klein, president of the Sabre Airline Solutions business unit.
The Sabre software selected for the TSA is already in use by 35 airlines and airport ground service providers worldwide, helping them manage the schedules of more than 200,000 workers.
The TSA's goal is to ensure that airline passengers don't have to wait longer than 10 minutes for security procedures. But the flow of planes and passengers varies throughout the day, and the agency wants to avoid the expense of having employees wait idly. The TSA also has to contend with employee absences and other staff scheduling problems.
The Sabre software is intended to allow the TSA to achieve optimal staffing at security checkpoints, "so the right people can be in the right place at the right time," Mr. Klein said.
The software can also analyze hypothetical situations, so the agency can evaluate the potential effects of changes before implementing them. Eventually, Mr. Klein said, he hopes the staffing system can respond to operational issues throughout the day, from changes in weather to employees taking ill during their shifts and leaving.
Sabre said existing airline customers have been able to reduce staff requirements by up to 25 percent because the software improves shift schedules.
The TSA contract is the second job that Sabre has signed related to homeland security, Mr. Klein said, at a time when the airlines themselves are in deep financial straits, trying to reduce spending to trim costs. Sabre software also is used for the federal air marshal program.
"This is a business that has done well in a tough environment," Mr. Klein said.