REPEAT/Sabre Implements First Phase of $10 Million Project for China Southern Airlines; Carrier to Debut New Operations Control Center With Sabre Systems.

Note: This release replaces BW1591-5/18 (CHINA-SOUTHERN-AIRLINES),

which ran on May 18. The new version contains additional

information.

GUANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 20, 1999--

China Southern Airlines (NYSE:ZNH) (HKSE:1055), the largest airline in the People's Republic of China, and Sabre announced the activation of a technically advanced System Operations Control center for China Southern Airlines.

The $10 million contract calls for Sabre to develop, customize and implement a full range of key, Year 2000-ready airline systems in three separate phases to meet China Southern's needs. China Southern Airlines jointly developed the customization of the project with Sabre and is the first airline to implement an SOC system in China.

The entire project is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter. The first phase was completed Tuesday and consists of the implementation of two software solutions developed by Sabre -- AIRPATH, an automated flight planning and dispatching system, and AIROPS, an automated operations and maintenance control system.

The final two phases call for Sabre to implement its load- planning and flight-following systems, as well as its crew-management system. Load planning will allow the SOC to plan and optimize flight capacity, while the flight-following system will track the airline's planes while en route to their destinations.

AIRCREWS, a crew-management system, will provide optimal solutions for assigning crew to aircraft fleet.

The SOC consolidates China Southern Airlines' nine regional branches into one center for centralized control. The SOC and command center are housed in an ultramodern facility located adjacent to the airline's new headquarters at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.

The SOC will run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and accommodate up to 22 people per shift at individual and group UNIX or PC workstations, with an additional 25 to 30 staff and support personnel.

When fully implemented, the center will integrate the computer system, ground-air communication system, ACARS system, WSI weather system, NOTAM information, Jeppesen Navigation database and crisis command center.

"The activation of SOC enables China Southern Airlines to be in the leading position domestically in the area of operation management and to further enhance its competitive capability," said Li Feng Hua, vice president, China Southern Airlines.

"There is no question that this facility, over time, will save China Southern Airlines a considerable amount of money as the SOC centralizes all critical daily operational functions."

"Our systems will help modernize central operations at China Southern Airlines, which will enable the carrier to improve customer service and realize efficiencies across the board," said Peter von Moltke, senior vice president of Sabre.

"We have developed an excellent working relationship with the China Southern team, and believe that this project further establishes our expertise in managing and implementing vital airline IT systems in the Asia/Pacific region."

Ranked No. 1 in passengers carried in China for the past 20 years, China Southern Airlines connects more than 80 cities around the globe. Major business and vacation destinations served in China include Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Guilin and Kunming; international service includes Los Angeles; Osaka, Japan; Bangkok, Thailand; and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Sabre (NYSE:TSG) is a world leader in the electronic distribution of travel and is a leading provider of information-technology solutions for the travel and transportation industries, including customized software development and software products, transaction processing, consulting and total information-technology outsourcing.

Current Sabre news releases may be accessed via the Internet. Visit the company's Web site at http://www.sabre.com.

Note to Editors: Sabre and the Sabre logo are registered trademarks of an affiliate of The SABRE Group Inc., soon to be known as Sabre Inc.