Chicago Express Picks Sabre Airline Solutions for Preferential Bidding System

System is part of overall Sabre Airline Solutions portfolio to automate airline’s Systems Operations Control (SOC)

SOUTHLAKE, Texas, May 16, 2003 – Sabre Airline Solutions has announced that it has successfully introduced preferential bidding for the more than 200 flight crewmembers of Chicago Express.

Sabre Flight Control Preferential Bidding is part of the Sabre Flight Control suite of systems for small, medium-sized and low-cost carriers. Using the system, Chicago Express crews submit scheduling preferences via the Internet each month. These preferences are entered in a proprietary lexicon and can include specific days off, generic days off (weekends, for example), specific trip assignments, generic assignments (long trips, short trips or specific layover cities) or daytime considerations (no early starts or late returns).

“Preferential Bidding has been a useful tool in our continuing commitment to improving on crew members quality of life while enhancing our operational efficiency,” said Captain Scott Hall, vice president of operations for Chicago Express.

The PC-based Preferential Bidding software processes each crew member's request(s), in seniority order, using a specialized integer programming algorithm. This algorithm uses proven optimization techniques to insure that each crew member gets as many of their requests satisfied to which their seniority entitles them. An audit trail is provided to explain the awarded assignments in the event that one or more crew members challenge their award(s).

Final awarded assignments are posted on the Internet, and automatically loaded into the Sabre CrewTrac crew scheduling system for day-to-day monitoring.

The introduction of Preferential Bidding is part of an overall plan for automating Chicago Express' systems operations control (SOC) functions using the Sabre Flight Control suite. Other products from the PC-based Sabre Airline Solutions portfolio are used to develop crew trip pairings, monitor crew qualifications and training records, track crew legality, and monitor aircraft assignments and schedule changes.

The introduction of Preferential Bidding with these other systems ensures that crews are assigned duties to which they are fully qualified, and which do not conflict with other non-flying activities, such as training and vacations.

ABOUT SABRE AIRLINE SOLUTIONS
Sabre Airline Solutions, a Sabre Holdings company, is the world’s largest provider of software products, reservation and departure control systems and consulting services to help airlines simplify operations and lower costs. Over 200 airlines worldwide use Sabre Airline Solution's broad portfolio of software solutions for decision-support tools to increase revenues and improve operations. More than 60 airlines use the company’s flight and ground operations suite to streamline all sized airlines crew and flight operations. More than 70 airlines worldwide rely on Sabre Airline Solutions for their reservation and departure control systems, with 16 new carriers and eight renewals signing in 2002. In addition, more than 100 clients worldwide have turned to Sabre Airline Solutions consulting group for strategic, commercial and operational consulting. More than 300 contracts were signed in 2002 within Sabre Airline Solutions.

Sabre Holdings Corporation (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 CrewTrac 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. © 2003 Sabre Inc. All rights reserved.