Travel Roundup: Northwest TB Scare, MGM Mirage's Casino Collateral, Norwegian's New Orleans Deal and More

Northwest passenger diagnosed with tuberculosis — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a Northwest Airlines passenger on Flight 51 from Frankfurt, Germany to Detroit was diagnosed with tuberculosis. A CDC spokeswoman said the center is trying to contact 17 passengers seated near the infected passenger so they can be tested. The passenger, who was not identified, was taken to Annapolis Hospital in Dearborn, Mich. [Source: Associated Press]

MGM Mirage uses casinos as collateral — MGM Mirage is using its casinos as collateral in talks with banks to modify its loans and avoid default. The casino operator, controlled by Kirk Kerkorian, said it is also open to selling its assets. MGM Mirage delayed its annual report on March 3 and the filing is due by Tuesday. The company gained some advantage in talks with lenders this month by drawing the last $842 million from its senior credit facility. [Source: Bloomberg]

Norwegian will sail out of New Orleans until 2014 — Norwegian Cruise Line reported it inked a deal to sail out of New Orleans through October 2014. The 1,966-passenger Norwegian Spirit cruise ship will be based in New Orleans for 21 weeks each year and will sail from November to April on week-long cruises to Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. The new agreement comes with a three-year option. [Source: Associated Press]

Henderson, Nev. wants $61 million space museum — Henderson, Nev. wants a $61 million space and science museum and is cutting millions from its budget to create what it hopes to be a tourist mecca on U.S. 95. The museum would be the center of a mixed-use roadside attraction that the city said it hopes will goose scientific research and industry. [Source: Las Vegas Sun]