Southwest Airlines recently recognized its operations at Buffalo Niagara International Airport as being the best of its division five stations for 2004.

“Buffalo continues to set the bar high winning this award for the past two years,” said Chris Wahlenmaier, Southwest Airlines' Senior Director of Ground Operations. “The outstanding Buffalo Employees met each new challenge with flexibility and patience, keeping our Buffalo Customers informed and ontime.”

Buffalo was named Southwest Airlines's “Division Five Station of the Year” based on several criteria including the highest percentage of compliments from Customers, fewest Customer complaints, best worker productivity, and best performance overall in Customer Service, ramp services, and operations. Buffalo is one of Southwest Airlines' 16 division five stations, which operate between as many as 16 flight departures each day. There are five divisions among Southwest Airlines' stations, each ranked according to the number of daily flights.

“Buffalo Employees demonstrate the true definition of ‘Southwest Spirit,' said Mike Gillock, Southwest Airlines' Buffalo Station Manager. “I am so pleased to see our hard working team rewarded with this tremendous honor.”

Southwest Airlines began offering service from Buffalo in 2000 with 11 daily nonstop departures to four cities. Today, Southwest Airlines' 54 Buffalo Employees operate 12 daily nonstop departures to five cities: Baltimore/Washington, Las Vegas, Orlando, Phoenix, and Tampa Bay, with direct or connecting service to 33 additional cities.