Tampa to Cuba Flights Resume in September After 50 Years

President Obama has approved flights to Cuba from Tampa International Airport starting in September. For the first time in 50 years Cuban-Americans living in the Tampa Bay area will be able to fly out of Tampa to visit family still living in Cuba.

Until 1960, Tampa International Airport provided regular flights to Havana. After communist dictator Fidel Castro seized the government, flights to Cuba were severely restricted to only three U.S. airports.

The resumption of Tampa to Cuba flights is good news for Cuban-Americans living in Central Florida. For years those wanting to fly to Cuba had to drive or fly to Miami which along with Los Angeles and New York was one of only three federally approved airports providing flights to Cuba.

Tampa is about 280 miles from Miami, a 5 hour drive. To travel to Cuba by air, one must be a U.S. citizen with relatives living there.

Relations between the United States and Cuba have deteriorated ever since Fidel Castro and his communist government seized control of the country in 1959. Today the United States does not have any formal diplomatic relations with Cuba, and the Cuban embargo act is still in effect, prohibiting U.S. trade with Cuba except for certain foods and medicine.

Because of Castro and communism, many Cubans have always wanted to come to the United States. For years they have risked their lives in flimsy boats, sneaking onto Florida beaches 90 miles away.

In 1980 Castro opened the Cuban port of Mariel for those wanting to leave, and 123,000 Cubans landed on the coast of Florida.

By the 1990's there were over 1 million Cuban Americans in the United States. 60% live in south Florida. Miami's little Havana is a Cuban city within a city. It is possible for Cuban Americans to exist entirely within the culture they left. Stores, restaurants, schools, churches, newspapers, radio and television all serve the Spanish speaking population.

Cubans came to Tampa as early as 1845 to work in the cigar-making industry. Ybor city was the center for cigar production. Today many of their descendants make the Tampa area their home and their food, art and language are an important part of Tampa's culture.

Over 140,000 Cuban Americans now live within a 2 hour drive to Tampa International Airport. The new flights will bring jobs and economic growth to the area. "This is the last piece of the puzzle," said Representative Kathy Castor, who has worked for years to make Tampa International Airport a gateway for flights to Cuba.

The changes will also allow purposeful travel for religious groups and colleges, and expand access to journalists. General tourism flights are still not permitted. The new regulations will open doors to the sharing of information and better relationships between the two countries. General belief is that when Fidel Castro dies, citizens will engineer a "coup" for independence from communist rule...

Round trip air fares from Tampa to Cuba will be in the vicinity of $399 to $549. A ferry service is also planned.

Sources:

http://www.hhsredblack.com/uncategorized/2011/02/10/flights-now-allowed-betw...

TBO.com

St. Pete Times