The newly reopened Hawthorne Lakefront Airport FBO recently underwent the ultimate test as New Orleans hosted Super Bowl XLVII. More than 150 airplanes were serviced through the weekend as the FBO offered a “Touchdown to Touchdown” VIP package with expanded concierge services for the visitors and a special Super Bowl party for the flight crews, where local New Orleans delicacies were served. Lakefront Airport is the closest airport to the downtown area and the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, where Super Bowl was held.
“The Super Bowl weekend was a tremendous success for the FBO across the board,” said Jay Taffet, Hawthorne Lakefront FBO’s general manager. “We put in long hours managing the high-volume logistics and service requirements through the weekend, but everyone at Hawthorne is thrilled that we pulled off the event with activity that exceeded our expectations, service that was applauded at every turn and industry visibility that we continue to benefit from in terms of strong momentum in aircraft arrivals weeks after the event.”
Hawthorne Global Aviation Services purchased the FBO from AeroPremier last summer and was forced to temporarily close its doors after the 50,000-square-foot hangar facility was damaged when Hurricane Isaac hit the area in September. The FBO reopened at the end of November, just over two months before the big event.
