Southwest Airlines Cargo announced it has purchased the AdvancedCargo Suite from Lufthansa Systems. This new system will help the airline optimize its air cargo booking, handling, and accounting processes, thus enhancing Customer Service. Shippers will be able to pre-book their Cargo shipments online much like Customers do an airline seat at southwest.com. Another practical implication of the AdvancedCargo Suite is enhanced online tracking capabilities via web, PDA, and cell phone. The new tracking capabilities aid Shippers who have time sensitive shipments by providing more accurate status updates.

Southwest's Cargo Customers will enjoy the benefits of the new system as early as fourth quarter 2007.

"Online booking and tracking capabilities made possible by the AdvancedCargo Suite from Lufthansa will enable Southwest Cargo to better serve our Customers," said Matt Buckley, Senior Director of Cargo.

"This new technology will allow Southwest to streamline our processes so that our Customers see the benefits."

By implementing state-of-the-art technology, Southwest Airlines Cargo will maintain its place as the industry leader with a focus on Customer Service. To aid in this, Southwest Airlines Cargo also purchased Sabre's CargoMax software to gain operational efficiency and manage bin capacity more strategically. The system allows Southwest to control its available aircraft bin capacity, utilizing every inch of space to get its Customers' shipments on the next open flight.

"Our focus is on providing the best service to our Customers," Buckley said. "Our hard-working Cargo, Ramp, and Operations Employees have set the gold standard in Customer Service, and we think our systems should reflect those standards."

Southwest Airlines Cargo keeps getting better. A year ago, Southwest opted out of its U.S. Mail contract, making a strategic business decision to strengthen operational control and focus on its mainstream Cargo products and services (i.e. NFG, RUSH and FREIGHT). Most recently, Southwest increased its per-piece weight limit to 200 pounds from 150 pounds for each service. These changes enhance Southwest's Customer Service offering and create new opportunities to provide Shippers with a "one-stop shop." Also in response to Customer input,

Southwest increased its seafood weight limit from 80 pounds to 175 pounds. This allows Southwest to transport some of the larger seafood commodities such as whole tuna. The increase in per-piece weight limits will have a positive annual impact on Cargo revenue.

As part of a continual investment in improvement, and being aware that time is of the essence with critical shipments like seafood and other perishable commodities, Southwest Airlines Cargo installed Explosive Trace Detection machines in Cargo facilities across the nation. These machines shorten the time it takes to process shipments and allow Southwest to sustain the shortest cut-off times in the industry, which are ordinarily 30 minutes prior to departure for all services.

Shortened cut-off times mean shipments move quickly-while meeting the Transportation Security Administration-mandated security directives.

"All of our improvements are a reflection of our dedication to keeping our Customers happy and our processes efficient," said Dave Hinderland, Director of Cargo Marketing and Business Development. "Southwest Cargo is always looking for ways to improve our already excellent operation."