Southwest Airlines recently recognized its operations at Portland International Airport as being the best of its division three stations for 2004.

“Portland set the bar high in 2004,” said Chris Wahlenmaier, Southwest Airlines' Senior Director of Ground Operations. “The outstanding Portland Employees met each new challenge with flexibility and patience, keeping our Portland Customers informed and on time.”

Portland was named Southwest Airlines' “Division Three 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. Portland is one of Southwest Airlines' 11 division three stations, which operate between 30 and 59 flight departures each day. There are five divisions among Southwest Airlines' stations, each ranked according to the number of daily flights.

“The fact that each Employee takes ownership in the station and wants it to be the best is the main reason Portland is so successful,” said Reggie Barnes, Southwest Airlines' Portland Station Manager. “Credit also needs to be given to the Leadership Team that was in Portland prior to my arrival. The leadership of Steve Stone, Pete Turley, and Veronica Moreno was instrumental in getting Team Portland focused on operational excellence.”

Southwest Airlines began service to Portland International Airport in 1994 with seven daily nonstop departures to Oakland and Spokane. Today, Southwest Airlines' 133 Portland Employees operate 35 daily nonstop departures to 11 cities: Albuquerque, Boise, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Oakland, Phoenix, Reno/Tahoe, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Jose, and Spokane, with direct or connecting service to 43 additional cities.