• Submitted by: manso
• Business and Economy
• 03 / 08 / 2011

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Tampa Bay Business Journal - Date: Monday, March 7, 2011, 4:54pm EST - Last Modified: Monday, March 7, 2011, 6:00pm EST Related: Tampa International Airport has approval from U.S. Custom and Border Protection to operate flights to Cuba.

TIA expects to offer flights by summer or early fall.

Three licensed charter operators have indicated their intention to provide service to Cuba.

The operators are: Air MarBrisa in Coral Gables, Island Travel & Tours Limited (listed in state records as a California company with a Royal Palm Beach registered agent) and ABC Charters of Miami.

Travel restrictions to Cuba have been modified. Passengers must have close relatives in Cuba, be involved in medical and agricultural business sectors, or be traveling for education or religious activities.

Cuba flights will create jobs and positive economic impact for Tampa as well as smoothing the runway for other international flights, a top priority at TIA, said Joe Lopano, chief executive officer. “It’s important this airport take an aggressive stance on opportunities to achieve more international flights for this community.”

Lopano said he expects the service will begin with one or two flights per week. He anticipated charter carriers would fly a 737 accommodating about 150 passengers.

Miami has daily flights, more during peak travel seasons. Tickets are generally about $500 round trip.

The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce said it is celebrating that TIA has been granted the authorization to serve as a port of entry and exit for nonstop flights to Cuba, calling it “a historic milestone in a two-and-a-half year campaign.”

“We thank the Obama Administration for recognizing the benefits of expanded air service to Tampa Bay area residents and businesses,” said Bob Rohrlack, president and CEO, in a prepared statement. “Cuban-Americans in our community and businesses conducting legal trade with Cuba can now save time and money by flying nonstop from Tampa.”

The Chamber has led the effort to reestablish flights to Cuba in coordination with Congresswoman Kathy Castor and TIA. Following the Jan. 14 announcement that restrictions on flights to Cuba would be eased, the Chamber created a Cuba Flights Committee, co-chaired by businessmen Jose Valiente and Jason Busto. This committee will work side by side with Tampa International to help facilitate the next steps in growing the air service to Cuba, a Chamber statement said.

Tampa residents who travel to Cuba through Miami often spend money staying at least one night in a South Florida hotel and eating in restaurants, Valiente said at a media event announcing the TIA Cuba flight approval. That’s money that now could circulate in back home, he said.

According to the 2009 American Community Survey, the Tampa Bay region today is home to approximately 91,516 Cuban-Americans, the third largest population of its kind in the United States.

Lopano said he expects the flights would probably go to Havana but other Cuban cities could become part of the service.

by Mark Holan, Staff writer

Source: /www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2011/03/07/tia-to-announce-cuba-flight-approvals.html