UPDATE: GSA Federal Airfare Contracts Fuel $4.5B Savings in FY08

WASHINGTON, June 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has awarded one-year contracts, totaling more than $2 billion, to 14 U.S. carriers, effective Oct. 1.

"These contracts provide flexibility and choice for federal travelers while saving taxpayer dollars," said GSA Administrator Lurita Doan. "The program's responsive approach to changing travel destinations, combined with lower fares for advance reservations in selected markets expands the government-wide savings opportunities."

As the premier federal procurement agency, GSA offers discount commercial airfares to federal travelers on official business, at an average 69 percent below full commercial fares. For FY 08, the discount is expected to generate a savings of more than $4.5 billion on 5,002 domestic and international routes.

GSA awarded the contracts June 21, based on average flight time, price, service, flight distribution, number of flights, available seats, fully refundable tickets and penalty-free cancellations and schedule changes. The one-way contract fares permit agency travelers to plan multiple destinations.

    GSA awarded FY08 federal airline contracts to the following carriers:

    Carrier              No. of Routes              Estimated Value

    United                 1,343                    $      661,068,454
    American Airlines      1,176                    $      389,650,698
    Delta Airlines           931                    $      370,537,930
    US Airways               750                    $      314,657,079
    Northwest Airlines       363                    $       35,832,050
    Alaska Airlines          134                    $       54,503,686
    AirTran Airways          118                    $       36,520,254
    Midwest Airlines          62                    $        4,130,321
    JetBlue Airlines          62                    $        2,878,160
    Express Jet               27                    $        8,765,958
    Frontier Airlines         21                    $       17,388,897
    Mesa Airlines dba go!      9                    $        2,544,183
    ATA                        4                    $          756,486
    North American Airlines    2                    $          223,205

    TOTAL                  5,002                    $    2,019,457,358

    The FY08 GSA City Pair airline fares will be posted July 31 on gsa.gov.

Founded in 1949, GSA serves as a centralized procurement and property management agency for the federal government. GSA manages more than one- fourth of the government's total procurement dollars and influences the management of $500 billion in federal assets, including 8,300 government-owned or leased buildings and 205,000 vehicles. GSA helps preserve our past and define our future, as a steward of more than 420 historic properties, and as manager of USA.gov, the official portal to federal government information and services. GSA's mission to provide superior workplaces, expert technology solutions, acquisition services, purchasing and E-Gov travel solutions and management policies, at best value, allows federal agencies to focus on their core missions.

Did You Know? Did you know GSA is the government's premier travel services provider for global, enterprise-wide travel management, air and lodging programs?