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Sabre Completes 2nd Phase Of $10 Million China Southern Airlines Project

Sabre Holdings Corporation (NYSE: TSG) and China Southern Airlines (NYSE: ZNH) (HKSE: 1055), the largest airline in The People`s Republic of China, announced today the completion of phase two of a three phase $10 million project to create a centralized operation control center system for the airline. The second phase involves the integration of Sabre‰ SteadyStateä weight and balance system and Sabre‰ FlightMonitor real-time flight monitoring system for the state-of-the-art, Sabre generated Systems Operation Control (SOC) facility, based here in Guangzhou.

“We are extremely pleased with the meticulous high quality service provided by Sabre on this important project,” said China Southern Airlines President Yan Zhi Qin. Mr. Yan added that, ” China Southern Airlines is committed to using the most modern, state-of-the-art aviation computer equipment at the disposal of our airline pilots and flight dispatchers. Passengers rarely see the infrastructure of a global airline, behind the scenes,? but all these efforts are made to continue to provide the finest in flight safety and on-time reliability.”

China Southern Airlines unveiled plans and began operation for its sophisticated SOC center in May 1999, following the completion of phase one in which Sabre‰ AirPathä flight planning and dispatch system and Sabre‰ AirOpsä movement control system were installed. The SOC will incorporate technology, provided by Sabre, into the airline`s flight planning, dispatching and aircraft movement control functions.

Phase two consists of the integration of the SteadyState application that will provide airline load planners with the tools to produce the most optimal plan for loading an aircraft. This ensures a safe flight weight and balance and will result in new fuel savings. Through this application, China Southern Airlines has become the first airline in China with an automated load planning system.

The second phase also includes the installation of the FlightMonitor system that equips China`s largest airline with a graphical means to track the location of an aircraft in flight and, if needed, provides assistance in rerouting flights. The information generated by the module is centralized and near real-time, providing airline dispatchers and managers with easy and timely access to critical data.

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“Our completion of the second phase exemplifies Sabre and China Southern`s commitment to this project,” said Mr. Li FengHua, vice president of China Southern Airlines. “The customized technology being integrated and used at our SOC center provides us with accurate, consistent and up-to-the-minute information. We are extending our airline`s capabilities and with Sabre technology we are confident that we will achieve our goal, to ensure safety, improve customer service and enhance airline operation efficiency.”

About China Southern Airlines:

Ranked No. 1 in passengers carried in China for the past 20 years, China
Southern Airlines www.cs-air.com/en connects more than 80 cities around the globe. Major business and vacation destinations served in China include: Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Guilin, Hong Kong, Kunming, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Wuhan and as well as international service, including: Amsterdam, Bangkok, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Los Angeles, Osaka, Penang, Phom Penh, Seoul and Singapore.


About Sabre:
Sabre is the global leader in applying information technology to meet the needs of the travel and transportation industries with advanced and innovative technology skills to deliver progressive solutions. Headquartered in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, the company has more than 10,000 employees worldwide who span 45 countries. Sabre reported 1999 revenues of $2.4 billion, up 5.6 percent from 1998. Net earnings excluding special items were $264 million, up 15.2 percent from the prior year. More information on Sabre is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.sabre.com. Sabre and the Sabre logo are registered trademarks of an affiliate of Sabre Inc.

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