TIA would face barrier to Cuba flights with Rubio amendment

TIA would face barrier to Cuba flights with Rubio amendment
By Steve Huettel, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Tuesday, February 15, 2011

On track for federal approval to launch new flights to Cuba, Tampa
International Airport has hit a political speed bump.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio last week proposed an amendment to a Federal
Aviation Authority funding bill that would prohibit any additional
flights between the United States and countries, such as Cuba,
designated as "state sponsors of terrorism'' by the State Department.

The amendment, the Republican freshman's first in the Senate, is
designed to counter changes the Obama administration announced last
month that loosened travel restrictions for college students and
religious and cultural groups, Rubio said.

"Increasing direct commercial or charter aircraft flights with state
sponsors of terrorism is totally irresponsible and would amount to
unilateral gifts to tyrants and regimes that actively undermine
America's security," he said in a statement Monday.

A Senate vote on the amendment to the FAA Air Transportation
Modernization and Security Improvement Act could come as soon as this
week, said Alex Burgos, spokesman for Rubio.

Now, travelers flying from the United States to Cuba must depart and
return from airports in three cities: Miami, New York and Los Angeles.
But the new Obama administration policy also opened the way for any
airport with approved customs and immigration facilities to handle
charter flights to Cuba.

Tampa International officials put out a news release last month hailing
the change. "This is great news from an international air service
development standpoint,'' CEO Joe Lopano said.

The airport applied Feb. 2 to U.S. Customs and Border Protection to
accept Cuba flights. TIA meets all the requirements, such as up-to-date
facilities, staffing and equipment, says spokeswoman Brenda Geoghagan.
Officials expect a decision by the end of the month.

"We're on the verge of approval,'' said U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, a Tampa
Democrat who has lobbied for TIA to get Cuba flights for two years.

Two federally licensed air service companies, Air MarBrisa of Tampa and
Island Travel & Tours of San Diego, have agreed to make the Cuba flights
from Tampa. The Cuban government must approve carriers and where they fly.

The Tampa Bay area is home to 59,000 Cuban-Americans, second in the
nation only to Miami-Dade County. Flying through Miami makes their trips
more expensive and a bigger hassle, Castor said.

Besides Tampa International, airports in Fort Lauderdale, Key West and
perhaps Orlando plan to ask Washington for direct flights to Cuba.

Rubio's amendment was very disappointing, Castor said: "It was a
political statement.'' Even if the measure passes the Senate, it's not
likely to get a warm welcome in the House or the White House, she said.

Local advocates of free trade with Cuba said Rubio, a son of Cuban
exiles who is from south Florida, was trying to maintain the hold Miami
International Airport and a handful of Miami travel companies now have
on the business of flying Cuban-Americans to the island nation.

"He's trying to protect their monopoly,'' said Jason Busto, who
publishes the online business news site Cuba Standard.

Burgos said the issue was strictly whether Washington should financially
support a repressive government by making it easier for Americans to
visit and spend their dollars there.

Steve Huettel can be reached at huettel@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8128.

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