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    1. Aircraft
    2. Commercial/Airline

    LEKTRO Named Southwest Airlines Equipment Provider of the Year

    July 24, 2017
    The airline utilizes LEKTRO’s model AP8950SDB-AL-200 towbarless pushback tractors, which first debuted in 2014 and are certified to move every aircraft in Southwest’s inventory.
    Related To: JBT LEKTRO, Inc.
    Pictured (L to R) Larry Laney, Southwest Airlines Ground Support Director and Eric Paulson, President of LEKTRO.
    Pictured (L to R) Larry Laney, Southwest Airlines Ground Support Director and Eric Paulson, President of LEKTRO.

    Warrenton, Oregon – LEKTRO was recently named Equipment Provider of the Year by Southwest Airlines. The airline utilizes LEKTRO’s model AP8950SDB-AL-200 towbarless pushback tractors, which first debuted in 2014 and are certified to move every aircraft in Southwest’s inventory. It utilizes a proprietary limiter system that adjusts the braking and acceleration characteristics of the tug, ensuring a smooth and certified pushback.

    The award was presented to LEKTRO in recognition of meeting or exceeding Southwest Airlines expectations for equipment reliability, customer service, parts support, training and overall value. Larry Laney, Southwest Airline’s Ground Support Director noted: “Since Southwest Airlines started purchasing equipment from LEKTRO in 2014, LEKTRO has met or exceeded the (award) criteria and has earned the respect of the entire GSE Leadership Team. Currently Southwest Airlines owns 45 LEKTRO towbarless tractors and has been an outstanding partner and definitely deserved the award.”

    “To be a relatively new vendor and receive this high of an award is not only a huge honor, but an affirmation to our business strategy and customer focused culture” said LEKTRO spokesman Henry Balensifer.

    LEKTRO manufactures and supports over 30 different models of their towbarless aircraft tugs from their headquarters in Warrenton, Oregon. The company continues to be recognized as an industry leader in towbarless pushback vehicles. Earlier this year they announced the delivery of their 5,000th tug, were named the Ground Support Worldwide Product Leader of the Year in April and sold their first production hybrid tug to launch partner Bombardier.

    About LEKTRO:

    LEKTRO is an Oregon based company founded in 1945 that specializes in the design and manufacture of electric vehicles. LEKTRO founder Wilt Paulson invented the first towbarless tow vehicle in 1967, revolutionizing aircraft towing. Since then, LEKTRO has been the leading producer of all-electric towbarless aircraft tugs. Eric, his son, took over the company in 1985, overseeing the development of the larger, modern tugs LEKTRO builds today. LEKTRO has produced a wide variety of pioneering electric vehicles over its 72 year history, including the first electric mink feeder and the first electric golf cart, as well as forklifts and warehouse vehicles. A single family ownership has guaranteed uncompromising reliability and function in LEKTRO’s products as well as unsurpassed product support. See more of their products and history at www.lektro.com

    About Southwest Airlines: In its 47th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than 54,000 Employees to more than 100 million Customers annually. Southwest today proudly operates a network of 101 destinations in the United States and nine additional countries with more than 3,900 departures a day during peak travel season. Service to Turks and Caicos begins Nov. 5, 2017, subject to requisite government approvals.

    Embraer