Southwest Airlines Signs New 10-Year, Content Distribution Agreement With Galileo
DALLAS & LANGLEY, England, May 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Southwest Airlines, which carries more domestic Customers than any other US airline, and Galileo, a leading global distribution system (GDS) and technology provider, today announced a 10-year, content distribution agreement. Through the agreement, all of Southwest's published fares and inventory, with the exception of Southwest exclusive web fares, will be available late this year to Galileo-connected travel agencies in North America.
"We often hear from our business Customers that they want an additional channel in order to take advantage of the airline with the best Customer Service, lowest fares, and most flights," said Kevin Krone, Southwest's vice president of sales, marketing, and distribution. "Southwest recognizes the significant value of Galileo's distribution channels, and we are pleased to provide our key travel agent and professional travel manager partners, who also are Galileo subscribers, with increased access to our content. This new agreement allows us to reach new Customers who will now have an opportunity to buy, book, and manage Southwest through the efficiency of the Galileo GDS channel."
Krone said today's GDS environment has evolved to the point where it has become a cost effective distribution opportunity which will increase the reach of Southwest Airlines to new business Customers, including those that rely upon corporate travel managers.
"This is a significant milestone which Galileo and its customers can celebrate," said Jean Collier, senior director, Supplier Services for Galileo Americas. "With full access to Southwest Airlines' fares and inventory available through our Galileo distribution channels, we are enabling agencies to provide their customers with the content they want in the most efficient way."
"Galileo is committed to securing new content for our travel agency customers, and delivering cost-effective and value-added distribution solutions for our supplier customers," said David Falter, president, Galileo Americas. "Southwest content is important to both leisure and corporate travelers and this agreement ensures they can book it where they want to. It also builds on the holistic relationship we have with Southwest, which already uses the Galileo hotel and car rental booking capabilities on their web site."
This agreement is in keeping with Galileo's focus on bringing access to new content to its customers. Details of the cost to agents for this Southwest content will be available shortly.
This news release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the plans, intentions, and expectations reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning the factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements are contained in the Company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation, the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended 2006 and subsequent filings. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this press release.
About Southwest Airlines
For the tenth year in a row, FORTUNE magazine recognized Southwest Airlines in its annual survey of corporate reputations. Among all industries in 2006, FORTUNE has listed Southwest Airlines as number three among America's Top Ten most admired corporations. Southwest was also named in Forbes Platinum List in the category of Transportation in the 57th annual listing of the 400 Best Big Companies in America. Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) is the nation's largest carrier in terms of domestic passengers enplaned, currently serving 63 cities in 32 states. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,300 flights a day and has more than 33,000 Employees systemwide.
About Galileo
Galileo is a global technology leader. Its core business is providing electronic global distribution services for the travel industry through its computerized reservation systems, leading-edge products and innovative, Internet-based solutions. Galileo is a value-added distributor of travel inventory dedicated to supporting its travel supplier, agency and corporate customers and, through them, expanding traveler choice. Galileo, a subsidiary of Travelport, is headquartered in Langley, UK, and has offices worldwide. Visit http://www.galileo.com.
SOURCE Southwest Airlines
Released May 16, 2007