Intelligence

News and Deals For the Global Traveler

Super Star to Fly Again
In a newly built hangar at the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport (LEW) in Auburn, Maine, Lufthansa is preparing to restore one of only four remaining complete Super Star aircraft. When it is returned to airworthy condition, Lufthansa’s will be the only one of these historic Lockheeds flying. The Lockheed L-1649A Super Star aircraft, made between 1956 and 1958, were the first long-haul aircraft operated by Lufthansa and U.S. airlines that were capable of nonstop Atlantic crossings in the early days of commercial trans-Atlantic aviation. Five former Lufthansa aircraft mechanics who worked on this aircraft and five active mechanics and engineers from Lufthansa Technik in Germany will complete the restoration, after which the aircraft will perform vintage flights in Germany. The Super Star was the apex of propeller-driven transport aircraft, and restoration will include a complete mechanical and physical overhaul as well as restoration of the interior passenger cabin, including painting it in its original colors.

Putting the ‘New’ in New Orleans
Once again, at the Sazerac Bar in New Orleans’ landmark Roosevelt Hotel, guests can sip the signature Sazerac cocktail and Ramos Gin Fizz, both invented here, while admiring the Art Deco-style murals. The hotel opens this spring, completely restored from damage caused by Hurricane Katrina, with all its turn-of-the-century architectural and decorative details intact but with up-to-date technology and amenities. The restored 505-room hotel opens as part of the Waldorf-Astoria Collection and includes 125 luxury suites, a 12,000-square-foot spa and fitness center, a business center, private dining and suite butler service, an outdoor pool, a courtyard and a specialty gift shop. The $135 million restoration project is one of the largest private investments in downtown New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina. Visit www.waldorfastoriacollection.com.

Heathrow to Hong Kong
Virgin Atlantic doubles its capacity between London (LHR) and Hong Kong (HKG) with the inauguration of a second daily service. Flight VS238 departs Heathrow Terminal 3 at 4 p.m., arriving in Hong Kong at 12:30 p.m. the following day. Flight VS239 departs Hong Kong at 2:15 p.m., arriving at London Heathrow at 7:20 p.m. on the same day. Hong Kong is the third-busiest long-haul route from Heathrow, surpassed only by traffic to New York (JFK) and Dubai (DXB). Visit www.virginatlantic.com.

Business Only on Lufthansa
Initiated in October 2008, Lufthansa’s business-jet service coddles 44 passengers on its Boeing 737 between Boston (BOS) and Munich (MUC) with one flight attendant for every 11 passengers, sleeper-style seats and full access to Lufthansa’s Business Lounges and Star Alliance lounge facilities in both airports. The service will operate six times weekly through March 29 without premium pricing. Rates are the same as business-class seats on a multi-class plane. Flight LH 425 departs Boston at 8:15 p.m. and arrives in Munich at 9:45 the next morning. LH 424 departs Munich at 3:40 p.m. and arrives in Boston at 6:35 p.m. every day except Tuesday. Visit www.lufthansa.com.

Merger Shuffle
Waiting for the fallout from the Delta-Northwest merger? So far, Delta Air Lines’ president Ed Bastian seems determined to maintain all seven hubs: Atlanta (ATL), Cincinnati (CVG), Detroit (DTW), Memphis (MEM), Minneapolis/ St. Paul (MSP), New York (JFK) and Salt Lake City (SLC). The new combined operation intends to expand its international presence to account for 50 percent of its routes and will cut some of its domestic traffic — Cincinnati is due for a 12 percent cut this month — as well as two unprofitable nonstop international ro utes from Detroit (DTW) to Osaka (KIX) and Paris (CDG). The airline expects to add a route from Detroit to Shanghai (PVG) in March and has already announced the addition of a new service between Paris (CDG) and North Carolina’s Raleigh/Durham Airport (RDU). Visit www.delta.com.

Dress for Success
A national partnership promoting the economic independence of disadvantaged women has been formed by the American Hotel & Lodging Association. The new initiative will include fund-raising events and suit drives at hotels across the country throughout the year. The goal is to build awareness and provide women with professional attire