July 19, 2004

Lufthansa Systems today announced that AirTran Airways, the Orlando-based low cost airline, will be the first customer in the United States to deploy its FMS (Flight Management System) navigation database. Used successfully by more than 100 airlines worldwide, the FMS database supplies comprehensive navigation data for cockpit systems and contains important route information including altitude data and alternate airports.

The new database enables pilots on any of the 77 aircraft of AirTran Airways to access flight information related to their type of aircraft and their route at any time. The FMS database is directly connected to the FMCGS (Flight Management Computer Guidance System), which takes over complete autopilot control in all modern aircraft. Furthermore, the FMS database contains important data to ensure the most efficient engine power levels, which results in fuel savings.

The FMS database builds on the Lido navigation database from Lufthansa Systems, which contains all aeronautical data available worldwide. Successful products like Lido Operation Center (Lido OC), Lido Flightplanning and Lido electronic Route Manual also utilize this database. According to ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) regulations, Lufthansa Systems will deliver an updated FMS database to AirTran Airways once every 28 days, which will then be exported to the on-board computers via a data link.

Lufthansa Systems guarantees that the FMS database is tailored to the types of aircraft used by its customers. The IT provider also serves as contact and contract partner, regardless of the aircraft types and hardware used by a given carrier. Data content is adjusted monthly to the planned operating area of the aircraft.

Lufthansa Systems also provides a special service which enables customers such as AirTran Airways to view and track all data and changes to the Lido navigation database and manage company routes at any time without having to wait for the standard update every 28 days. Additional support is provided by the Lufthansa Systems Customer Service Center, which is available for help 24/7.

"We decided to update our cockpit data sources as part of our continued expansion. Selecting the tried and tested FMS database from Lufthansa Systems was only a first step in this process. We can very well imagine that we will extend our cooperation with Lufthansa Systems in the near future," says Klaus Goersch, Vice President Flight Operations at AirTran Airways.

“We are extremely pleased with how our products and services have been received by the North American airline industry. This AirTran Airways contract provides further validation that the airlines value the quality of our services offerings, and see that they provide unique advantages over what has traditionally come from this continent” says Peter von Moltke, President and CEO of Lufthansa Systems Americas Inc, headquartered in Miami, Florida.

The FMS database has more than 110 customers including airlines such as Air Canada, Air France/KLM, Alitalia, British Airways, Emirates, Finnair, Garuda, Iberia, Lufthansa and Thai Airways.

Note to editors:

Lufthansa Systems is one of the leading IT service providers for the airline and aviation industries worldwide. As systems integrator, the wholly-owned subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group covers the entire range of IT services, including consulting, development, implementation and operation. Lufthansa Systems provides its IT infrastructure and operations services to a variety of industries. Headquartered in Kelsterbach near Frankfurt/Main, Germany, the company has branches in Germany and 13 countries and employs about 4,400 people worldwide. In business year 2003, Lufthansa Systems recorded sales of EUR 610.7 million.