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| LTU - 'First Comfort' |
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Merit
June -
2005 |
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4
Stars & 4 Stripes
Overall - 'Service & Comfort' |
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The Ultimate Award:
Seven Stars and Stripes® |
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| LTU, one of the safest airlines world-wide, is celebrating this year
its 50th anniversary. |
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| Happy
Birthday! |
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| Carrying today
circa 6 million passengers annually in their easily recognizable radiant red
and white aircrafts, with over seventy airports world-wide, LTU has brought
'First Comfort' into a new dimension. Although LTU works with several large
travel agencies in Europe and world-wide, more than 98 percent of their
services run on regular flight schedule. LTU was founded in Frankfurt in 1955,
and was then called "Lufttransport-Union" (air transport union). The first
flight was on March 2nd, 1956 carrying 36 passengers from Frankfurt to Catania
in Sicily. In those early days, only one aircraft was operated: a twin-engine
Vickers Viking with two radial engines, carrying the registration D-ADAM. This
somewhat bulky aircraft, developed from the Wellington bomber, reached a
maximum speed of 340 kilometers per hour. |
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| We entered
the LTU First Comfort business lounge in Düsseldorf, Germany, a pleasant
experience throughout. Coffees, teas, cocktails, soft drinks and a few great
German beers with cold cuts and snacks galore were available for us. The
travelers were pleasantly low-key, a German VIP comedian relaxed unpretentious
and undisturbed. |
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| My party of four
took the red eye from JFK, NYC to Düsseldorf, Germany and we all found it
a most relaxing way to jet. These comfortably shaped grey leather recliners are
by no means to be compared with a bed but did put my wife right to sleep after
a good dinner. This delicious gourmet menu with several choices (choice of five
entrées) accompanied by a tempting selection of well temperatured
champagnes and red and white wines was served by Stewart Kollmorgen, who
provided a caring and uncompromising experience. |
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| "The LTU business connection between the Hamptons and Düsseldorf
is a go." ~ TBP |
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| My first
appetizer of four white, succulent, large shrimps was as if somehow freshly
cought; fit for any cosmopolitan Sushi Bar. Did you know that there are over
2000 different species of shrimp in the world? Most falling into four
categories: white, pink, brown and black. This appetizer was served with a
perfectly chilled glass of (no plastic) Veuve Emille Brut, equally fresh,
exiting and delicious, requiring me to ask for more. As second appetizer I
chose slices of Roasted Duck Breast, which is considered a red meat and is
usually served quite pink in the middle, it was perfect. This course was very
delicious and tasted like a fine filet mignon. For the appropriate wine paring,
I chose a 2003 Spaetburgunder, full body, fruity, berries on the palate.
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My main
course was 'Beof Stroganoff' served with creamed potatoes, sautéed
spinach and pan-fried squash. Stroganoff is one of the more famous dishes of
international cuisine. The dish goes back to 19th century Russia, and both the
recipe and the name come up in a lot of variants. This wonderfully flavored
dish is a favorite of mine. However, since the dish demands timing because the
Stroganoff is cooked on the stove-top and at the very last minute requires the
chefs' full attention; this one didn't get enough attention.
We finished
with cheesecake & strawberry sauce accompanied by fresh, strong, hot coffee
and a Remy Martin XO. I had never seen the small travel version of this
excellent Cognac before, and took one home. |
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| Time
literally flew by while I was channel flipping on my personal TV screen, we
could choose from several different movies in English and German. The chic
amenity bag offered just in time to freshen up for smooth landing, well, Simone
woke up for that… |
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“Overall, it was a fine flight with wonderful, attentive,
caring service and a very smooth landing.
Captain Wassen did an outstanding
job. We were right on schedule.” TBP |
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Juergen Marbach
Chief
Executive Officer
For the 50th anniversary celebration on November
12th, CEO Juergen Marbach has engaged the singer
Phil
Collins to perform at the LTU arena in Düsseldorf; this will be his
only concert in Germany in 05. I was told that most of the proceeds are going
as donation to the ' Little Dreams’ foundation which supports talented
kids from all over the world. To quote ‘Aero Magazine International’:
LTU has a history of thirty-two years of accident-free flying, and that
explains the term ‘family friendly’ airline.
For the birthday
celebration LTU is offering ‘City Quickies’ with unheard of low
priced rates for a pleasant shopping spree. Hey, or to visit a good old friend
on his or her birthday. |
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by Thorsten
Buehrmann (Piosczyk) & Simone Buehrmann
Editor: Ingrid
Lemme
Editor-in-Chief: John Lomitola |
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