GSA Commercial Airfare Contracts Save Taxpayers Billions
GSA # 10521
June 30, 2008
Contact: Viki Reath, (202) 501-1231
Viki.reath@gsa.gov
WASHINGTON – The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) today awarded one-year contracts, valued at more than $2.4 billion, to 12 airlines for 4,303 domestic and 1,199 international “City Pairs.” City Pairs are points of origin and destinations that form the basis for one-way ticket pricing for travel between the two cities. This provides federal travelers the flexibility to book travel one-way, multi-leg and round-trip airline flights to meet their mission. The awards are effective October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009.
“GSA, as the premier federal procurement agency, offers discount commercial airfares to federal travelers on official business for expected savings of more than $5 billion in Fiscal Year (FY) 2009,” said FAS Commissioner, Jim Williams. “GSA strives to consistently provide best value to federal agencies and the U.S. taxpayers. This valuable program would not be successful without the airline industries’ sustained partnership and participation.”
The number of City Pairs awards for FY 2009 is up 10 percent from FY 2008, with carriers providing more offerings. The average awarded fare has increased by 13 percent to $308.59 due to higher fuel cost, but the average savings has remained steady at 61 to 83 percent below similar, unrestricted commercial fares. GSA awarded the contracts 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 following airlines were awarded FY 2009 City Pairs contracts:
| Carrier | No. of Routes | Estimated Value |
|---|---|---|
| Delta | 1,553 | $ 641,060,023 |
| American Airlines | 1,352 | $ 515,115,892 |
| United Airlines | 1,136 | $ 663,499,140 |
| US Airways | 704 | $ 317,710, 645 |
| Northwest Airlines | 366 | $ 130,094,719 |
| Airtran Airways | 119 | $ 47,318,048 |
| Alaska Airlines | 115 | $ 53,989,947 |
| Midwest Express Airlines | 64 | $ 15,035,122 |
| JetBlue Airlines | 52 | $ 9,777,202 |
| Frontier Airlines | 28 | $ 22,990,845 |
| Virgin Airlines | 7 | $ 7, 778,821 |
| Mesa Airlines | 6 | $ 3,384,360 |
| Total | 5,502 | $ 2,427,754,763 |
City Pairs airline fares are posted at apps.fss.gsa.gov/citypairs/search.
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GSA provides a centralized delivery system of products and services to the federal government, leveraging its enormous buying power to get the best value for taxpayers.
• Founded in 1949, GSA manages more than one-fourth of the government’s total procurement dollars and influences the management of $500 billion in federal assets, including 8,600 government-owned or leased buildings and 208,000 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? GSA developed the City Pair Program in 1980 to provide discounted air passenger transportation services to Federal government travelers. The program has grown from 11 markets to more than 5,500 city pairs.
